A Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Secondary to Acupuncture and Cupping

• DOI: 10.5021/ad.2011.23.1.67
• Publication Date: 2011-03-17T00:39:46Z
• Authors: Ye-Jin Jung; Jae-Hong Kim; Hae-Jin Lee; Hana Bak; Seung Phil Hong; Soo Young Jeon; Sung Ku Ahn
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 3. Good health

Acupuncture and cupping have a public reputation as being safe even though these practices can lead to complications such as trauma or infection. We report here on a case of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection secondary to acupuncture and cupping in a 56-year-old woman. The patient, who had a history of acupuncture and cupping on her left forearm for treating her myalgia, developed painful papules. Histologically, the biopsy specimen showed characteristic ballooning degeneration and inclusion bodies in the epidermis and mid-dermis. These clinical and histological findings were consistent with the diagnosis of HSV infection.