Herpes simplex ulcerative esophagitis in a healthy subject.

A 20-year old white male developed a self-limited ulcerative esophagitis followed by a transient vesicular skin eruption due to infection by herpes simplex virus Type I (HSV-I). While herpetic esophagitis has been described previously, this case appears to be unique in that there was no concomitant serious delibitating illness or pharmacological immunosuppression. Herpes simplex Type I should be included in the differential diagnosis of unusual esophageal ulceration in otherwise healthy patients.