Herpes zoster with cutaneous dissemination in a patient 21 years after splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Background: Varicella-zoster virus is a member of the herpes virus family that causes varicella during a primary infection and herpes zoster (HZ) when reactivated. Patients who are immunocompromised often have atypical presentations of HZ and experience complications such as multidermal involvement and dissemination.

Objective: We report a case of disseminated HZ in an immunocompetent patient with a history of splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).