This document summarizes several common viral skin infections: cold sores caused by herpes simplex virus; warts caused by human papillomavirus; molluscum contagiosum caused by a poxvirus; and varicella (chickenpox) caused by varicella-zoster virus. It describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of each infection. Common treatments include antiviral medications like acyclovir and valacyclovir as well as cryotherapy or topical medications for warts and molluscum. Vaccines are available to prevent chickenpox.

1. VIRAL SKIN INFECTION

2. COLD SORES
• Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus.
• Also called as oral herpes (herpes labialis).
• Vesicular/erosive lesions
• It may cause severe, flu-like symptoms, swollen
lymph nodes, and headache..
• It last for 10 to 14 days.

3. Pathophysiology
• HSV remains within the host for life, remaining
latent in the sensory nerve ganglia, leading to
recurrent reactivation.
• It last for short time around 5 days.
• Prodrome symptoms consist of itching,
tingling, and tenderness.
Other manifestation
Herpes Gladiatorum
• Cutaneous herpes in athletes involved in
contact sports is transmitted via direct skin-
toskin contact

4. Ocular herpes
• Ocular HSV infection is a cause of corneal blindness.
Herpetic whitlow
• infection of the pulp of the
distal phalanx of the hand.

5. Diagnosis
• Viral culture (PCR)
• Clinical
Treatment
• Oral antiviral drugs are useful for suppressive
therapy.
• Corticosteroids in combination with an oral
antiviral agent may be beneficial for episodic
treatment of herpes labialis.
• Acyclovir
• Valacyclovir

6. WARTS
Definition
• Warts are benign epidermal neoplasms that
are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs).
• HPVs infect epithelial cells of the skin, mouth,
esophagus, larynx, trachea, and conjunctiva
• Cause both benign and malignant lesions
• Viral warts are tumors initiated by a viral
infection of keratinocytes

7. Common warts
Common warts (verruca vulgaris) begin as
smooth, fleshcolored papules and evolve into
dome-shaped, graybrown, hyperkeratotic
growths with black dots on the surface

8. Filiform and Digitate Warts
Finger like, fleshcolored projections emanating
from a narrow or broad base.
They are most commonly observed about the
mouth, beard, eyes,

9. Flat warts
• Plana warts are mainly caused by HPV-3 and
HPV-10
• Flat warts (verruca plana) are pink, light
brown, or light yellow and are slightly
elevated, flat-topped papules that vary in size
from 0.1 to 0.5 cm.

10. Treatment
• Cryotherapy is effective for common warts
and is reasonable first-line therapy
• Keratolytic Therapy (40% Salicylic Acid
Plasters)
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU).
• Imiquimod

11. MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM
Definition
• Caused by Poxvirus.
• Viral infection of the skin characterized by discrete, 2- to 5-
mm, slightly umbilicated, flesh-colored, dome-shaped
papules.
• Spreads via autoinoculation, scratching, or touching a
lesion and fomites.
• The areas most commonly involved are the face, trunk,
axillae, extremities in children, and the pubic and genital
areas in adults.

12. Treatment
• Cryosurgery
• Cantharidin, a chemovesicant extract from the
blist
• Imiquimod

13. VARICELLA
• Varicella, or chickenpox, is a highly contagious
viral infection
• The incidence peaks sharply in March, April,
and May in temperate climates.
• After it has produced chickenpox, varicella-
zoster virus (VZV) becomes latent in ganglia
along the entire neuraxis.
• Vaccine is available for chickenpox ( Varicella
caccine).

14. Clinical Course
• incubation period averages 14 days, with a
range of 9 to 21 days;
• The prodromal symptoms in children are
absent or consist of low fever, headache,
and malaise
Laboratory Diagnosis
• Rapid PCR.
• virus can be cultured from vesicular
fluid
• Serology

15. Treatment
• Acyclovir
Prevention
• Varicella vaccine is made with live, attenuated
varicella virus