RESEARCH ARTICLE
Herpes Simplex Virus Infections of the Nipple
Lara El Hayderi, Marie Caucanas, Arjen F. Nikkels*
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2012Volume: 6
First Page: 29
Last Page: 32
Publisher ID: TODJ-6-29
DOI: 10.2174/1874372201206010029
Article History:
Received Date: 12/06/2012Revision Received Date: 26/06/2012
Acceptance Date: 26/06/2012
Electronic publication date: 26/9/2012
Collection year: 2012
open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
The usual sites of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and 2 infections are orolabial and anogenital, respectively. HSV infection of the nipple and periareolar area is exceptional but probably underrecognized. Typical features include severe pain and erosive or ulcerated erythematous confluent clusters of lesions of the nipple and periareolar area. It is usually unilateral and not recurring. HSV infection of the nipple is originating from autoinoculation, sexual transmission or breastfeeding. Diagnosis is often delayed. The Tzanck smear is the most rapid and adequate method of diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry enables viral identification. The treatment relies on topical disinfection and oral antiviral therapy, such as aciclovir, famciclovir or valaciclovir. Scarring is uncommon.