Bilateral asymmetrical zoster in an adolescent

Zoster is a frequent disease of adulthood with a distinct age-dependent inc rease after 60. In contrast during childhood or adolescence tester only rar ely occurs. Certain risk factors such as hematologic malignancies are assoc iated with early appearance. The typical clinical manifestation is unilater al, equally involving thoracic dermatomes. A 16-year-old patient presented with tester in bilateral asymmetrical distribution, with trigeminal and tho racic dermatomes simultaneously affected. Despite the clinical findings and the unusual localization,there was no history, clinical nor laboratory sig ns of an immune suppression or any other underlying disease. Careful follow -up examinations are necessary in order to recognize systemic, espacially h ematologic, malignancies.