Orf Virus Infection in Children: Clinical Characteristics, Transmission, Diagnostic Methods, and Future Therapeutics

• DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e31806211bf
• Publication Date: 2007-07-24T08:03:14Z
• Authors: Edith R. Lederman; Connie Austin; Ingrid Trevino; Mary G. Reynolds; Holly Swanson; Bryan Cherry; Jennifer Ragsdale; John Dunn; Susan Meidl; Hui Zhao; Yu Li; Howard Pue; Inger K. Damon
• Keywords: Male; Microbiology (medical); Adolescent; Orf virus; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Infectious Diseases; 0302 clinical medicine; Child, Preschool; Zoonoses; Ecthyma, Contagious; Animals; Humans; Female; Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health; Child

Orf virus leads to self-limited, subacute cutaneous infections in children who have occupational or recreational contact with infected small ruminants. Breaches the integument and animals recently vaccinated for orf may be important risk factors transmission. Common childhood behaviors are likely provocation of significant (ie, bites) unusual lesion location (eg, facial lesions). Clinician recognition is distinguishing infection from life-threatening zoonoses. Recently developed molecular techniques provide diagnostic precision newer topical therapeutics hasten healing.