COVID-19 and Herpes Simplex Virus Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study.
| Autor: | Shanshal M; Dermatology, Basildon University Hospital, Basildon, GBR., Ahmed HS; Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Tikrit, College of Medicine, Tikrit, IRQ. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Cureus [Cureus] 2021 Sep 16; Vol. 13 (9), pp. e18022. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Sep 16 (Print Publication: 2021). |
| DOI: | 10.7759/cureus.18022 |
| Abstrakt: | Background Despite being variable and poorly characterized, the reported cutaneous manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are of increasing concern. Methodology This study aimed to determine the prevalence and possible association between COVID-19 and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. A nine-item questionnaire was sent to 120 polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 patients with a response rate of 66.67%. This cross-sectional observational study included 80 patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection who did not require hospitalization or steroid therapy. Results One or more HSV infections were observed in 28 patients (35%) with COVID-19 infection, including 10 (35.7%) males and 18 (64.29%) females. Of the 28 patients, fever was reported in 17 (75%) during COVID-19. Most of the respondents (78%) described a single HSV reactivation, 14.29% had two attacks, and 7.14% experienced three attacks. Compared to previous non-COVID-19-related HSV reactivation, the COVID-19-related attacks were more severe in 12 (42.85%) patients, equally severe in five (17.85%) patients, and less severe in one (3.57%) patient. Interestingly, 10 (35.71%) patients developed an initial symptomatic HSV attack during COVID-19 infection. Conclusions This study demonstrated a possible association between COVID-19 infection and primary HSV infection or reactivation. COVID-19 direct neuronal effect in addition to COVID-19-related psychological stress, fever, and immunological dysregulation could play a potential role in HSV reactivation or primary infection during COVID-19. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (Copyright © 2021, Shanshal et al.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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