Published online Mar 16, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i8.1857
Peer-review started: December 11, 2022
First decision: January 9, 2023
Revised: January 14, 2023
Accepted: February 22, 2023
Article in press: February 22, 2023
Published online: March 16, 2023
Alphaherpesvirus belongs to the Herpesviridae family and has large, monopartite double-stranded linear DNA. It mainly infects the skin, mucosa, and nerves, and can affect various hosts, including humans and other animals. Here, we present a case of a patient seen by the gastroenterology department at our hospital who experienced an oral and perioral herpes infection following treatment with a ven
A 73-year-old woman presented to the hospital with a chief complaint of "abdominal pain for 3 d with dizziness for 2 d." She was admitted to the intensive care unit for septic shock and spontaneous peritonitis secondary to cirrhosis and was given antiinflammatory and symptomatic supportive treatment. A ventilator was used to assist breathing for acute respiratory distress syndrome, which developed during her admission. A large area of herpes infection appeared in the perioral region 2 d following noninvasive ventilation. The patient was transferred to the gastroenterology department, at which time she had a body temperature of 37.8 C and a respiratory rate of 18/min. The patient's con
Through multidisciplinary consultation, the patient’s oral and perioral herpes infection was successfully treated with the following combined approach: (1) Application of topical antviral and antibiotic treatments; (2) keeping the wound moist with a wet wound healing strategy; (3) systemic use of oral antiviral drugs; and (4) symptomatic and nutritional supportive care. The patient was discharged from the hospital after successful wound healing.
Core Tip: Herpes simplex virus can be latent in the sensory ganglia of the host and reactivate periodically, resulting in recurrent herpes infection. The patient presented in this case report achieved good recovery after multidisciplinary consultation, treatment of the viral infection with oral and topical administration of antiviral drugs, the anti-inflammatory effect of furacilin, hemostasis with local epinephrine injection and application of thrombin lyophilized powder, and the use of a wet wound healing approach.