Tularemia with vesicular skin lesions may be mistaken for infection with herpes viruses

Abstract

The original reports of human infection with Francisella tularensis noted vesicular skin rash as a manifestation. We present 2 cases of tularemia initially diagnosed as herpes simplex or varicella zoster infection. Clinicians must recognize the cutaneous manifestations of tularemia and be able to distinguish these from lesions seen with herpes viruses. © 2008 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.