Zoster-like eruption due to echovirus 6

R. H. Meade 3rd and T. W. Chang

A unilateral vesiculobullous eruption associated with fever was seen on the neck, shoulder, and upper part of the chest of a 7-year-old boy. Although three dermatomes in all were involved, the lesions resembled herpes zoster. The patient had had varicella in infancy. Culture of fluid from several bullae yielded echovirus 6; however, and serum neutralizing antibody to this virus rose in titer from 1:32 to 1:640. It is suggested that echovirus 6 and other enteroviruses may cause a number of vesicular eruptions that resemble herpes zoster and similar infections. Viral culture, while often difficult to obtain, is the only way to identify the cause of eruptions like this one.