Herpes gladiatorum with ocular involvement in a mixed martial arts fighter.

ABSTRACT

We report a case of herpes gladiatorum (HG) in a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. The eruption appeared following a sparring session with a new partner and progressed to involve the left eye. Fever and facial rash prompted the patient to go to the hospital where he was treated with antiviral therapy. The considerable increase in popularity of MMA may lead to a greater prevalence of HG as well as other cutaneous infections contracted through skin-to-skin contact.