Five patients with localized facial eruptions associated with Gianotti-Crosti syndrome caused by primary Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Five infants exhibited an exclusively facial rash associated with Gianotti-Crosti syndrome(GCS). On all patient cheeks, multiple erythematous papules were seen symmetrically. All patients tested positive for the immunoglobulin (Ig)M antibody against the Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen, suggesting that a primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection caused localized facial rash, an alternative clinical picture of GCS.