Concurrent herpes simplex type 1 and varicella-zoster in the V2 dermatome in an immunocompetent patient

A unique feature of herpesviruses is their ability to establish latent infe ction within the nervous system by colonizing peripheral sensory ganglia, w hich results in subsequent episodic outbreaks of infection triggered by pre cipitating events. Despite the latent nature of both herpes simplex virus t ype 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) within these sensory ganglia , simultaneous outbreaks of these viruses are uncommon. This is generally a ttributed to the differing reactivation features of these 2 viruses. Four c ases of concurrent HSV-1 and VZV infection are described in the literature. We report concurrent infection of HSV-1 and VZV within the same V2 dermato me in an immunocompetent patient.