J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2007 Mar;41(3):204-206. 10.3340/jkns.2007.41.3.204.

A Case of Postoperative Herpes Simplex Pneumonia

• Lee TO
• Hwang HS
• Moon SM
• Choi SK

• KMID: 1881685
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2007.41.3.204

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) esophagitis is a rare disease and most of cases are reported in the immunocompromised patients2,3,11,15,17,18). We report a case of fatal HSV infection started from herpes labialis and esophagitis. She had initially suffered from perioral ulcer, esophagitis, and interstitial pneumonitis later and eventually died of respiratory insufficiency one month later after the aneurysmal surgery. She did not have any immunocompromised medical history and also had no evidence of herpes encephalitis in laboratory study and magnetic resonance image (MRI). With the availability of effective agents for the treatment of HSV infection, early recognition of HSV esophagitis is important because it may be clinically confused with Cushing ulcer and may be complicated with a fatal pneumonitis.

Keyword

Herpes simplex virus infection; Esophagitis; Pneumonitis

MeSH Terms

Aneurysm
Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex
Esophagitis
Herpes Labialis
Herpes Simplex*
Lung Diseases, Interstitial
Pneumonia*
Rare Diseases
Respiratory Insufficiency
Simplexvirus
Ulcer