Increasing incidence of eczema herpeticum: analysis of seventy-five cases.

Clinicians at the Department of Dermatology at the University of Mainz saw 63 patients with 75 episodes of eczema herpeticum. An analysis of these cases shows an exceedingly high rate of increased incidence of the disease. From 1969 through 1981, 13 cases were registered, whereas in the years 1982 to 1986 the number of cases was 62. The mean age of the patients was 22.7 years, and 42 patients (56%) were between 15 and 24 years of age. This finding shows that the affected patients are not predominantly infants, as has been reported up to now. Of these patients 5 had one recurrence, two had two recurrences, and one had three recurrences. Acyclovir, used for treatment in 38 cases, led to rapid improvement, whereas therapy with immunoglobulins, antibiotics, and so-called immunostimulating agents did not clearly influence disease duration.