Article Text
Summary
A 64-year-old immunocompetent man developed a widespread pruritic and vesicular rash 2 weeks after receiving the zoster vaccine (Zostavax). He had fever, bandaemia with normal total white blood cell count and mild transaminitis. PCR testing of serum and skin was positive for varicella zoster virus (VZV), while serum VZV IgG was negative. The analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism by PCR and sequencing from the skin swab was consistent with the vaccine strain. The patient received 1 week of intravenous acyclovir and was discharged after all lesions had crusted. He continues to do well on follow-up with no significant complications.
- immunological products and vaccines
- vaccination/immunisation
- skin
- safety
- unwanted effects / adverse reactions
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Footnotes
Contributors KH conducted a literature review on the topic and drafted the paper. HH provided the images and revised the paper. JC sequenced the VZV genome and provided laboratory analysis and results. MV revised the paper. JM guided the drafting of the paper and supervised the process.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.