ABSTRACT
Most of the cutaneous viral infections are self-limiting. But some viral infections may prove fatal or cause irreversible damages in certain clinical scenarios. Etiology, clinical features, and management of such clinical scenarios that can be termed as dermatological emergencies are covered in this chapter. A good clinical skill is mandatory to diagnose viral infections more so when they occur in the setting of immunosuppression with atypical presentations. Individuals at risk for developing life-threatening cutaneous viral infections need to be identified promptly. Appropriate diagnostic modalities should be implied to confirm the diagnosis at the earliest. Rapid initiation of apt treatment is warranted to save lives and to prevent irreversible complications in many cases. Infections caused by herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, morbillivirus, rubella virus, parvovirus, enterovirus, and flavivirus are discussed in detail in this chapter.
