Disseminated herpes zoster in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Herpes zoster virus infections occur in persons with decreased cellular immunity. A 45-year-old man is described who presented with disseminated herpes zoster as the initial manifestation of his human immunodeficiency virus infection. Disseminated herpes zoster virus infections have been reported in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients. Similar to disseminated herpes zoster virus infections that occur in immunosuppressed patients seronegative for human immunodeficiency virus, an increased morbidity and responsiveness to acyclovir is observed. In contrast, the morphology of the skin lesions and the clinical course have been more severe, and the mortality has been increased. Visceral involvement has not been described.