Four cases of herpes gladiatorum

A 17-year-old male with vesicles on the head, face and neck admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of Kaposi's varicelliform eruption. Four days later, another member of Judo club of the same high school consulted our hospital for vesicles on the forehead and head, and he also had a fever. Additional two other members presented with vesicles on the head on 10 days later. Because all these patients were members of the same Judo club, we diagnosed as herpes gladiatorum, which is herpes simplex virus infection that transmits byhard physical contact in exercise or game. If herpes simplex infection develops among members of sports club, patients should refrain from training, and to find the other members with early lesions, screening should be performed. As well known in Trichophyton tonsurans infection, it is an effective prevention to ensure awareness of herpes gladiatorum.