Herpes simplex superinfection with hailey-hailey disease: Case report

Hailey-Hailey disease (familial benign pemphigus) is an autosomal dominant acant-holytic dermatosis. The disease shows painful erosions and vesicles situated on an erythematous background especially in the intertriginous area. Herpes simplex infection associated with Hai-ley-Hailey disease differs from eczema herpeticum in that it is more localized. A 55-year-old female presented with vesicular lesions on the edge of wide inguinal erosions. A Tzanck smear revealed single hypertrophic nucleated acantholytic round cells with basophilic cytoplasm and one or two marked nucleoli at the periphery of the nucleus, adjacent to the nuclear membrane. Herpes simplex superinfection of Hailey Hailey disease is very rare and may not come to mind in diagnosis. A Tzanck smear, which is faster and easier than other tests for diagnosis, should be undertaken when there is clinical suspicion of herpes infection and antiviral treatment should be administered without delay. Copyright © 2013 by Türkiye Klinikleri.