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Case Reports
. 2023 Jan;12(1):82-84.
doi: 10.7774/cevr.2023.12.1.82. Epub 2023 Jan 31.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus after COVID-19 vaccine booster in healthy younger adult: a case report

Zamrud Wilda Nuril Awaly  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus after COVID-19 vaccine booster in healthy younger adult: a case report

Zamrud Wilda Nuril Awaly. Clin Exp Vaccine Res. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

There were growing reports of herpes zoster reactivation after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, including a more severe form, herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). A 35-year-old male presented HZO in his left V1 dermatome 10 days after his COVID-19 vaccine booster with Moderna (messenger RNA-1273). He had no history of chronic disease, immunocompromised, autoimmune, malignancy, or long-term immunosuppressive drug use. The rash improved without any further complications after being treated with oral valacyclovir for 7 days. This was a unique case of HZO after the COVID-19 vaccine in a booster setting in healthy younger adults. The association of herpes zoster after a COVID vaccine remained inconclusive and potentially coincidental, especially without the known risk factor. However, we would like to add a report to increase awareness among physicians and the general population, for early recognition and treatment with an antiviral.

Keywords: 2019-nCoV vaccine mRNA-1273; COVID-19 vaccines; Case report; Herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. (A, B) Left herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). Presence of a typical HZO eruption in the left V1 dermatome. Informed consent for publication of this image was obtained from the patient.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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