Fræðigrein

Læknablaðið 2006; 92: 855-7

In recent years only a few cases of croup due to herpes simplex infection among healthy children have been reported. This case report concerns a 15 month old, healthy boy who was admitted to the Children´s Hospital with croup and failed to recover within the week. The boy had a postive throat culture for herpes simplex type 1 and was diagnosed with croup due to herpes simplex on the basis of sereology.

The boy was treated with corticosteroids; a recognised practice in severe cases of croup. The harmful effects of corticosteroids in herpes simplex croup, if indeed any, are not known. We surmise that in this case the use of corticosteroids was not a decisive factor, but it has been previously noted that prolonged corticosteroid treatment can play a role in herpes simplex infection.

Furthermore it has been debated whether other viral pathogens proceed the infection, but in this case serology indicates otherwise.

Correspondence: Þórólfur Guðnason, thorgud@landspitali.is