A rare case of Herpes zoster in childhood following vaccination against Varicella zoster virus

Introduction: Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of Varicella zoster virus which lies dormant within dorsal root ganglion. Usually patients acquire the virus following primary Varicella zoster infection, but occasionally they get it after administration of Varicella vaccine. Hereby we describe a case of childhood Herpes zoster following Varicella vaccine.
Case history: A 3 years old febrile child was presented with multiple, hemorrhagic vesicles over left L2/3 dermatomes for 2 days duration. There was no past history of primary Varicella zoster infection but he was vaccinated against Varicella before. Patient was treated with acyclovir for Herpes zoster and patient recovered completely.
Discussion: This child with Herpes zoster acquired the virus possibly after administration of Varicella vaccine. Viraemia following vaccination might have carried the virus to distant neuronal locations at where the skin eruption developed.