A rare case of Herpes zoster oticus in an immunocompetent patient

Herpes zoster oticus in healthy persons is uncommon, though it has been described in immunocompromised patients. We describe a case of disseminated herpes zoster oticus in an elderly man with no apparent immunosuppressive condition. The patient was treated successfully with oral Acyclovir. We suggest that disseminated zoster can occur in an immunocompetent host and should be promptly recognized and treated to prevent serious complications.