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What Is Eczema Vaccinatum?

According to WrongDiagnosis.com, eczema vaccinatum is a rare condition in which a person with eczema is exposed to vaccinia, a virus used to eradicate smallpox, through vaccination. Someone recently vaccinated can spread the virus to someone with eczema.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of eczema vaccinatum include fever, blistered skin, crusted skin rash, bacterial infection of affected skin, and facial swelling. If left untreated, the disease can result in death, according to WrongDiagnosis.com.

    Significance

    • An estimated 27 million people in the United States have atopic dermatitis, the medical term for eczema, and are susceptible to eczema vaccinatum, according to MedTerms.com.

    Treatment

    • Vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) should be used to treat the disease. VIG is a blood product rich in antibodies against vaccinia, according to MedTerms.com. The mortality risk is reduced to zero and the severity of sickness is reduced with the treatment. Further antibiotic treatment may be required for bacterial and fungal infections.

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