Page 176 - fourth year book

SKIN DISEASES

2- Recurrent infection:

Occurring in individuals who possess specific antibodies (commonest
one). It is usually accompanies common cold, influenza, pneumonia,
malaria and meningococcal meningitis.

 After primary lesion heals. Virus remain latent & undetectable in
the dorsal root ganglia& they reactivate descend to peripheral
nerves to skin & induces recurrent lesion.

Precipitating factors for recurrence:

1. Common cold, influenza and other upper respiratory tract
infection.

2. Actinic eg; exposure to sun.
3. Gastrointestinal disturbance eg; dyspepsia
4. Focal infection: tooth extraction, truma to the lips.
5. Allergy to drugs or food
6. Familial tendency.
7. Psychic factors (nerves stress).

Age of incidence: At any age

Clinical picture: Localization:

1. Orificial and periorificial : lips nostrils and eyelids.

2. Mucous membrane of the buccal cavity, tongue, pharynx, larynx
and conjunctiva

3. Genital : Glands penis, Urethra, labia majora and minora and
cervix

4. Checks and buttocks may be affected.

N.B Herpes labialis appears on the border of lip rather than inside the mouth on
the mucous membranes. This is important to differentiate it from stomatitis,
dyspeptic ulcers

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