Herpes Zoster in an Infant with Probable Postherpetic Neuralgia

Abstract

Numerous reports have appeared in the literature concerning the occurrence of herpes zoster in infants and children. Freud et al.,¹ in 1942, and Feldman,² in 1952, reported the occurrence of this disease in the newborn. Recently, Winkelmann and Perry³ reported 7 cases occurring in children from the ages of 7 months to 5 years. In none of these cases did the problem of postherpetic neuralgia arise. The editors of the Year Book of Dermatology,⁴ in commenting on the report of Winkelmann and Perry, stated that postherpetic neuralgia is not seen in children. The following case is that of an infant who has evidence of postherpetic neuralgia. Report of a Case The patient, a 3½-month-old white boy, was first seen in the Pediatric Clinic of Walter Reed General Hospital on July 6, 1960. The mother stated that an eruption had been present on the