Disseminated vaccinia false alarm

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2003 Oct;22(10):925-6. doi: 10.1097/01.inf.0000091391.14809.3d.

Abstract

We report the case of a 6-year-old girl who presented in December 2002 with fever and a vesicular rash. Initially she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The differential diagnosis was expanded, however, when an exposure to a person who was believed to be vaccinated recently against smallpox was revealed. We describe the sequence of events that ensued and the workup for a possible case of disseminated virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Erythema Multiforme / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Risk Assessment
  • Smallpox / prevention & control
  • Smallpox Vaccine / adverse effects
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Vaccinia / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Smallpox Vaccine