ABSTRACT
Varicella or chickenpox is primarily an infectious disease of childhood and majority of population is infected upto 15 years of age. Rarely, varicella is seen in newborns as congenital or perinatal infection, but in such cases mortality rate is very high. Here we present two cases of neonatal varicella with secondary complications, one with varicella pneumonia and other developing severe secondary skin infection and sepsis.
ABSTRACT
Varicella (chicken pox) is a common and contagious childhood disease. Varicella is uncommon in adults but potentially life-threatening because of serious complications such as pneumonia, hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and encephalitis. Among them, varicella pneumonia is the most common and serious complication of varicella infection in adults, with a reported incidence in healthy adults that is 25-fold greater than in children. Herein, we described a case of varicella pneumonia in a 36 year old healthy male patient. The patient presented with disseminated vesicular lesions, a fever, cough and mild dyspnea. A Tzanck smear of a vesicle showed multinucleated giant cells. A chest radiograph showed multiple, tiny nodules in both lungs and lymphadenopathy in the perihilar area. The patient was successfully treated with systemic acyclovir and corticosteroid for 15 days.
Subject(s)
Adult , Child , Humans , Male , Acyclovir , Chickenpox , Cough , Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation , Dyspnea , Encephalitis , Fever , Giant Cells , Hepatitis , Incidence , Lung , Lymphatic Diseases , Pneumonia , Radiography, ThoracicABSTRACT
Varicella is a contagious infection in childhood disease typically affecting children aged 2-8 years and usually follows benign outcome. In the adult, clinical presentation is more severe and more commonly associated with complications. Varicella pneumonia, although rare, is a potentially life-threatening complication that should be suspected in any adult with varicella and respiratory symptoms. We report a case of varicella pneumonia in immunocompetent patient. The characteristic radiographic findings consisted of diffuse scattered coarse nodular infiltrations, less than 1cm sized, with ground glass opacity and consolidation in both lung fields. The patients was started on intravenous acyclovir. The chest radiograph performed 2 weeks later showed complete resolution of the pulmonary lesions.
Subject(s)
Adult , Child , Humans , Acyclovir , Chickenpox , Glass , Lung , Pneumonia , Radiography, ThoracicABSTRACT
Varicella is usually a benign childhood disease, while in the adult is an infrequent but potentially serious infection. Varicella pneumonia is a potentially life-threatening complication that should be suspected in any adult with chickenpox and respiratory symptoms. In the adult it may be complicated by pneumonia with high morbidity and mortality rates. We present a case of varicella pneumonia complicated the course of chickenpox in the living-related donor renal transplant recipient. A 30-year-old male received an allograft kidney from his father following treatment with cyclosporine and low-dose steroids. Allograft function was stable over the next 27 months. He was admitted hospital with a week history of generalized varicelliform rash, malaise, fever, chills and a cough. Three weeks ago, his nephew (7-year-old) had chickenpox who was living together in the same house. On examination he looked severely ill, febrile and his skin was covered with typical chickenpox eruption. Auscultatory examination was unremarkable while chest X-rays revealed bilateral interstitial infiltration. HRCT findings showed multiple variable sized nodules, patchy ground-glass opacities, and some consolidation in both lower lung. Treament with i.v. acyclovir was started and continued for 10 days. The patient response to the treatment was excellent with complete resolution of pneumonia.