Herpes Gestationis - Blistering Diseases

HERPES GESTATIONIS

Herpes gestationis is a disease that occurs during or shortly after pregnancy. It shares several clinical features with bullous pem-phigoid, and despite its name, it has no relation to the herpes virus. This disease is uncommon, with an incidence of approximately 1 case in every 50,000 pregnancies. It appears in the second or third trimester. It begins with urticarial papules on the abdomen and spreads to the trunk and extremities. It usually resolves within a few weeks of delivery but can recur in subsequent pregnancies, with menses, or with the use of oral contraceptives (Odom et al., 2000).

Management

Herpes gestationis is best managed with systemic corticosteroids. There is debate about whether there is any risk for fetal morbid-ity or mortality in babies born to mothers with herpes gestatio-nis. As in other blistering diseases, special attention is required to prevent secondary infection.