Impacto clínico y epidemiológico de las infecciones por varicela en niños previo a la introducción de la vacuna al Calendario Nacional de Argentina / Clinical and epidemiological impact of varicella infection in children prior to the introduction of the varicella vaccine in the national immunization schedule of Argentina

Introducción. En Argentina, se estiman 400 000 casos anuales de varicela. Dado el subregistro de casos existentes, la carga de enfermedad real se desconoce. Objetivo. Evaluar la carga de enfermedad por varicela antes de la introducción de la vacuna al Calendario Nacional. Materiales y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo, analítico, observacional, realizado en tres centros asistenciales del país. Revisión de los registros de consultas ambulatorias a los Servicios de Urgencias y de las historias clínicas de las internaciones por varicela en pacientes < 18 años. Período: 1/2011-12/2013. Resultados. Fueron asistidas un total de 382782 consultas ambulatorias; 3367 (0,88 %) correspondieron a consultas por varicela; el 57,6 %, < 4 años. Requirieron internación 164 (4,9 %) con una tasa de hospitalización global de 65,3/10000 hospitalizados/año (IC 95 %: 55,4-76,5); tasa de hospitalización en niños sanos: 57,2/10 000 (IC 95 %: 67,7-48,0); mediana de edad: 31,5 meses. Las causas de internación más frecuentes fueron infecciones de piel y/o partes blandas (61,1 %) y respiratorias (10,1 %). El 54,3 % recibió tratamiento con aciclovir, y el 73,1 %, con antibióticos. Presentaron bacteriemia 5/67 (7,5 %), todas por cocos Gram(+) y en inmunocompetentes. De los 19 pacientes inmunocomprometidos, el 36,8 % tuvo complicaciones (5 infecciones de piel y/o partes blandas y 2 neumonías). La mediana de días de internación fue 4, significativamente más prolongada en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. Un paciente requirió cuidados intensivos. No hubo fallecidos. Conclusión. La carga de enfermedad registrada fue significativa, con impacto considerable en pacientes sin patología de base.

Introduction. In Argentina, an estimated 400 000 varicella cases occur annually. Given the under-recording of existing cases, the actual burden of disease is unknown. Objective. To assess the burden of varicella before the introduction of the varicella vaccine in the national immunization schedule. Materials and methods. Retrospective, analytical, observational study carried out in three hospitals of Argentina. Review of medical records from outpatient visits to the Emergency Department and from patients younger than 18 years hospitalized for varicella. Period: 1/2011-12/2013. Results. A total of 382 782 outpatients were seen; 3367(0.88%) corresponded to visits due to varicella; 57.6 % were < 4 years old. A total of 164 (4.9 %) patients required hospitalization, with an overall hospitalization rate of 65.3/10 000 hospitalized patients/year (95 % confidence interval -#91;CI-#93;: 55.4-76.5); hospitalization rate in healthy children: 57.2/10 000 (95 % CI: 67.7-48.0); median age: 31.5 months. The most common causes of hospitalization were skin and/or soft tissue infections (61.1 %) and respiratory infections (10.1 %). Also, 54.3 % were treated with acyclovir and 73.1 %, with antibiotics. Bacteremia developed in 5/67 patients (7.5 %), all cases were caused by Gram-positive cocci and occurred in immunocompetent patients. Out of 19 immunocompromised patients, 36.8 % had complications (5 skin and/or soft tissue infection and 2 pneumonia cases). The median length of stay was 4 days, which is significantly more prolonged in immunocompromised patients. One patient required intensive care. No patient died. Conclusion. The burden of disease was significant, with a considerable impact in patients without an underlying disease.

Seroprevalence and social determinants of varicella in Turkey

Background: In Turkey, varicella vaccine was introduced into routine childhood immunization in 2013, with a single dose administered to children aged 12 months. However, there is limited information on the morbidity [incidence and seroprevalence], mortality and burden of disease of varicella in the overall Turkish population.

Aim: To determine varicella seroprevalence and its social determinants in Manisa Province, Turkey in children aged > 2 years before single-dose varicella vaccination was introduced in 2013.

Methods: The presence of anti varicella-zoster virus IgG antibodies was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples collected from 1250 participants.

Results: The overall seroprevalence was 92.8% and the seroprevalence was > 90% among all age groups except 2–9 years [55.7%]. Seroprevalence was significantly associated with family size, annual per capita equivalent income, number of people per room and education level. After adjusting by age, only education level remained significantly associated with seroprevalence, reflecting the early age effect.

Conclusion: High seroprevalance depends on natural exposure to the infectious agent itself and is not associated with social determinants. High vaccine coverage should be maintained for effective varicella control and switching to a 2-dose schedule may also be considered to reduce the number and size of outbreaks in the Turkish population

Varicela perinatal en el Hospital Puerto Lempira: reporte de un caso / Perinatal Varicella at Puerto Lempira Hospital. Case report

Antecedentes: La varicela es una enfermedad exantemática que se presenta predominantemente en la infancia, siendo muy contagiosa por lo que su presencia durante el embarazo, en el feto y el recién nacido pueden representar un verdadero problema. El primer caso de varicela congénita se informó ́ en 1878; ocurrió ́ en un recién nacido de un día de vida por lo que hizo pensar que la infección había sido adquirida in utero. Caso clínico: Se expone el caso de un neonato de 14 días de vida el cual es llevado a emer - gencias por presentar lesiones vesiculosas generalizadas acompañado de irritabilidad, sin ningún otro síntoma acompañante, con an - tecedente de su madre y su hermano mayor de presentar las mismas lesiones una semana antes del nacimiento, por lo cual se ingresó con el diagnóstico y tratamiento de varicela perinatal, con evolución satisfactoria a las dos semanas de tratamiento, sin complicaciones. Conclusión: El empleo temprano de Aciclovir oral contribuyo a la remisión satisfactoria del cuadro, aunado a la protección parcial por las IgG de la madre adquirida vía transplacentaria. La infección por VVZ en la embarazada se ha demostrado como un agente terató - geno reconocido y la varicela perinatal puede ser muy grave, pero aquí radica la importancia del periodo de gestación en la cual ocurre la transmisión, siendo la falta de control prenatal un detonante que contribuye al aumento de morbimortalidad perinatal...(AU)

PROTECTIVE LEVELS OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER ANTIBODY DID NOT EFFECTIVELY PREVENT CHICKENPOX IN AN X-LINKED AGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA PATIENT / Nível sérico adequado de anticorpo contra o vírus da varicela-zoster não foi suficiente para prevenir a infecção em criança com agamaglobulinemia ligada ao X

SUMMARY We describe the case of an eight-year-old boy with X-linked agammaglobulinemia who developed mild varicella despite regular intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy. He maintained protective antibody levels against varicella and the previous batches of IVIG that he received had adequate varicella-specific IgG levels. The case illustrates that IVIG may not prevent VZV infection.

RESUMO Relatamos o caso de uma criança com agamaglobulinemia ligada ao X, sexo masculino, oito anos de idade, que desenvolveu quadro de varicela leve, apesar do tratamento regular com imunoglobulina intravenosa (IVIG). O paciente mantinha níveis adequados de imunoglobulina (IgG) contra varicela, assim como, os últimos lotes de IVIG por ele recebido também apresentavam níveis adequados do anticorpo específico. O caso ilustra que o tratamento regular com IVIG não é suficiente para prevenir a infecção pelo vírus da varicela-zoster.

Óbitos e hospitalizações associados à infecção pelo vírus varicela zoster no período anterior à introdução da vacina tetraviral no Programa Nacional de Imunizações no Brasil / Hospitalizations and deaths associated with varicella zoster virus infection in a previous period of tetraviral varicella vaccine introduction in the national immunization program in Brazil

A varicela é uma doença viral, aguda, causada pela infecção primária pelovírus varicela zoster (VZV). Embora a maior parte dos casos de varicela seja benigna,a doença pode associar-se a complicações que levam à hospitalização e óbito, comopneumonias, meningoencefalites e infecções bacterianas secundárias. Anos apósa infecção primária pelo VZV, pode ocorrer reativação viral, que se manifesta comoherpes zoster. Iniciou-se, em 2013, no Brasil, a vacinação universal contra a varicela,através do Programa Nacional de Imunizações. A eficácia da vacina varia entre 70 e 90%.Tem sido considerada a hipótese de que a vacinação universal contra a varicela podeocasionar mudança no perfil epidemiológico da doença, com aumento do número de casosem adolescentes e adultos, além de influenciar a incidência do herpes zoster. O presenteestudo tem como objetivo caracterizar a mortalidade e morbidade hospitalar, associadasao VZV no período pré-vacinal no Brasil, gerando um diagnóstico de situação que possaser utilizado para comparações no período pós-vacinal. Foram realizados dois estudos:inicialmente, dados secundários foram coletados a partir do Sistema de Informações deSaúde (Tabnet) do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DataSUS)para cálculo das taxas de mortalidade por varicela por região e por ano, no período entre1996 e 2011, e das taxas de hospitalização por varicela e herpes zoster por região epor ano, no período entre 2008 e 2013. Os resultados foram estratificados por idade eas distribuições temporal e geográfica caracterizadas...

Varicella is a viral disease induced by a primary varicella zoster virus (VZV)infection. While most cases of the disease are benign, it can originate complicationsleading to hospitalization and death, like pneumonia, secondary bacterial infections andmeningoencephalitis. Many years after primary VZV infection, viral reactivation manifestedas herpes zoster can occur. Universal varicella vaccination began in 2013 in Brazil throughthe National Immunization Program. Vaccine efficacy is between 70 and 90%. It has beenhypothesized that vaccination against chickenpox can change disease epidemiology, withan increased number of cases in adolescents and adults. There is also concern about theimpact of universal vaccination on herpes zoster incidence. The present study aims tocharacterize the morbidity and hospital mortality associated with VZV in the pre-vaccineperiod in Brazil, generating a situation analysis that can be used as a benchmark forcomparisons in the post-vaccine period. Two studies were performed: initially, secondarydata were collected from the Health Information System (Tabnet) of the Department of theUnified Health System (DataSUS) for mortality rates calculation for varicella by region andyear between 1996 and 2011, and hospitalization rates for varicella and herpes zoster byregion and year, in the period between 2008 and 2013. The results were stratified by ageand temporal and geographical distributions characterized. It was also performed a caseseries study including 167 from 175 hospitalizations for chickenpox recorded in FernandesFigueira Institute-Fiocruz in the period between 1997 and 2013, to describe clinical andepidemiological aspects of disease complications. Data from 2.334 deaths and 62.246hospitalizations for chickenpox were collected in DataSUS...

Varicela complicada en un hospital pediátrico de referencia, Perú 2001-2011 / Complicated chickenpox in a national pediatric Peruvian hospital, 2001-2011

El objetivo de estudio fue describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los casos de varicela complicada atendidos en el Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño (INSN) del Perú durante los años 2001 al 2011. Se realizó una serie de casos que incluyó un total de 1073 niños con varicela complicada. La mediana de la edad fue de 2,5 años (RIQ 1,1-4,8 años); 578 (54%) fueron de sexo masculino. El tipo de complicación más frecuente fueron las infecciones secundarias de piel y partes blandas con 768 casos (72%), se registró 13 (1,4%) fallecidos. En conclusión, en el INSN se hospitalizan con mayor frecuencia casos de varicela complicada en niños menores de cinco años, con un tiempo de hospitalización corto y con una baja proporción de fallecidos, la mayoría de complicaciones siendo relacionadas con las infecciones secundarias de piel y partes blandas.

The objective of the study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of complicated chickenpox cases seen at the National Institute of Children’s Health (INSN, Spanish acronym) of Peru from 2001 to 2011. A case series was collected, including a total of 1,073 children with complicated chickenpox. The median age was 2.5 years (IQR 1.1-4.8 years), of which 578 (54%) were male. The most frequent complications were secondary skin and soft tissue infections with 768 cases (72%). 13 deaths (1.4%) were recorded. In conclusion, the hospitalizations due to complicated chickenpox in the INSN included mostly children under five, with a short stay and a low proportion of deaths most complications being related to secondary skin and soft tissue infections.

Seroprevalencia de virus varicela-zoster en niños con cáncer en seis hospitales de Santiago, Chile / Seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus in children with cancer in six hospitals in Santiago, Chile

Infections with varicella-zoster virus (VVZ) in immunocompromised children imply a high mortality. There is no data about VVZ seroprevalence in children with cancer in our country. Aim: To determine the prevalence of VVZ antibodies in children with cancer who have undergone chemotherapy or have undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Methodology: collaborative, multicenter study. Serum samples were collected from 281 children with cancer and episodes of febrile neutropenia from 6 hospitals belonging to the public health network in the Metropolitan Region between June 2004 and August 2006. These samples were stored at -70 ° C, and 200 of them were randomly chosen and analyzed to determine VVZ IgG (ELISA). Results: 179 samples from 179 children, 65% male. Ninety eigth/179 (55%) were positive, 72/179 (40%) negative and 9/179 (5%) indeterminate. Stratified by age, seropositive percentage was: 1 to 4 years 32%, 5-9 years 42%, 10-14 years 78%, over 15 years 88%. Conclusion: Forty percent of children treated for cancer are seronegative to VVZ infection, a frequency that decreases with age. These results support the adoption of preventive measures to avoid infection in this population of children at risk of developing a serious and possibly fatal illness.

Las infecciones por virus varicela-zoster (VVZ) en niños inmunocomprometidos presentan una alta morbi-mortalidad. Se desconoce la seroprevalencia de VVZ en niños con cáncer en nuestro medio. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos anti VVZ en niños sometidos a tratamiento por cáncer (quimioterapia o trasplante de precursores hematopoyéticos). Método: Estudio colaborativo, multicéntrico. Se recolectaron muestras de suero de 281 niños con cáncer y episodios de neutropenia febril (NF) en seis hospitales de Santiago, entre junio 2004 y agosto 2006 y almacenadas a -70° Cº. Doscientas muestras fueron seleccionadas al azar para determinación de IgG anti VVZ. Resultados: De las 200 muestras de suero obtenidas se excluyeron 21: 12 por ser muestras de un mismo paciente en diferentes episodios de NF y 9 por falta de información. Se analizaron las muestras de 179 niños, 65% de sexo masculino. Noventa y ocho resultaron positivos (55%), 72 negativos (40%) y 9 indeterminados (5%). Estratificado por edad: 1-4 años (32%), 5-9 años (42%), 10-14 años (78%) y mayores de 15 años (88%). Conclusión: 40% de los niños en tratamiento por cáncer son seronegativos para VVZ, condición que disminuye en pacientes con mayor edad. Estos resultados apoyan la adopción de medidas que eviten la infección en esta población de niños con riesgo de desarrollar una enfermedad grave y eventualmente fatal.

Recurrent Infection by varicella-zoster virus with facial scarring / Infecção recorrente pelo vírus varicela-zoster com sequelas cicatriciais na face

Primary contact with the varicella-zoster virus occurs through varicella (chickenpox) and culminates with this virus entering the sensory nerves and remaining latent in the dorsal root ganglion. Transmission occurs by dissemination of infectious particles of the varicella-zoster virus by the aerosol released from nasopharyngeal secretions or skin lesions, or by direct contact with lesions. Herpes zoster occurs after clinically evident reactivation of the virus, affecting the whole distribution of the infected sensory nerve. When compared with primary infection, herpes zoster has a more severe character, requiring the use of pharmaceutical drugs. The cause of reactivation is unknown and may be associated with predisposing factors, such as age, stress or impaired immune system. This study reports a case of a patient who presented clinical manifestations compatible with varicella zoster infection exacerbated by the use of homemade remedies, resulting in a secondary infection and facial scarring.

O contato primário com o vírus varicela-zoster ocorre na varicela (catapora), culminando com a transposição desse vírus para os nervos sensitivos, onde estabelece sua latência no gânglio espinhal dorsal. A transmissão ocorre por disseminação das partículas infecciosas do vírus varicela-zoster através de aerossóis liberados a partir de secreções do nasofaringe ou lesões cutâneas ou, ainda, pelo contato direto com lesões. O herpes-zoster clinicamente evidente ocorre após a reativação do vírus, com o envolvimento da distribuição do nervo sensitivo afetado. Quando comparado com a infecção primária, o herpes-zoster desenvolve um caráter de maior severidade, sendo sempre necessária a administração de uma terapêutica medicamentosa eficaz. A causa dessa reativação é desconhecida, podendo estar relacionada a fatores predisponentes como a faixa etária, estresse ou imunodeficiências. Neste trabalho relata-se um caso clínico em que a paciente apresentou manifestações clínicas condizentes com um quadro característico de infecção por varicela-zoster, complicado por uso de medicação caseira, resultando em infecção secundária e cicatrizes faciais.

Varicela complicada en un paciente inmunocompetente: reporte de un caso / Complicated varicella affecting an immunocompetent patient: report of a case

La varicela es una enfermedad infecciosa que ocurre principalmente en los niños y la gran mayoría de los casos tiene una presentación benigna, autolimitada y es suficiente con un tratamiento sintomático. En pacientes inmunocompetentes generalmente no hay complicaciones, y si aparecen son de severidad leve, por ejemplo sobreinfecciones cutáneas, otitis, hepatitis subclínicas y ocasionalmente ataxia cerebelosa. Por el contrario en pacientes inmunocomprometidos, el grado de severidad de la enfermedad es mayor, con una duración más prolongada, lesiones cutáneas extensas y profundas y pueden presentarse complicaciones letales como la Neumonía por Varicela, la falla hepática fulminante, las infecciones sistémicas y los trastornos de la coagulación. Se presenta el caso no fatal de un paciente masculino de 10 años sin historia ni paraclínicos sugestivos de inmunocompromiso, que desarrolla varicela con extenso compromiso cutáneo, que por signos y síntomas sugestivos de falla hepática, síndrome de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica y Coagulopatía, requirió hospitalización prolongada, con lenta recuperación y posterior desarrollo de cerebelitis y que después de realizarse estudios extensos no logro demostrarse inmunodeficiencia de base que explicara la severidad de la enfermedad.

Chickenpox is and infectious disease that occurs mainly in children. In the vast majority of cases it has a benignand self limited course and with a symptomatic management is enough. In immunocompetent host thereusually aren’t complications and if appear, they are generally mild, like cutaneous infections, otitis, subclinicalhepatitis and cerebellar ataxia. In immunocompromised host instead, the severity of the disease is higher, with amore prolonged course, bigger and deeper lesions, and even lethal complications like fulminant liver failure, pneumonia, systemic infections and coagulopathy. A non fatal case is presented, about a male, 10 years old patient without a suggestive history of immunologicalincompetence that developed chickenpox with extended andprofound cutaneous involvement, that because of signs and symtoms suggestive of liver dysfunction, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and coagulopathy, herequired a prolonged hospitalization with slow recovery and posterior development of cerebelitis and after several studies we failed to demonstrate an immunodeficiency thatexplained the severity of the disease.

Hepatic dysfunction is frequent in varicella infection

To determine frequency and severity of hepatic dysfunction in adult chickenpox patients admitted in our hospital. This was a hospital based descriptive study conducted from January 2005 to December 2007 at the Infectious Diseases Unit, Rashid hospital Dubai, UAE. The demographics, clinical information, radiological and biochemical changes observed in each patient were entered in a proforma. Full blood count, liver function tests, blood sugar, urea and electrolytes were done for all the patients, whereas, patients with clinical and/or biochemical evidence of hepatic dysfunction were subjected to viral hepatitis serology, coagulation profile, blood culture and ultrasound abdomen. Management was done as per standard guidelines for the management of chickenpox and its complications. A total of 105 patients were entered into the study. Serum alanine transaminases [ALT] levels were above the reference range in 50.9%. Among the 52 patients with raised serum ALT levels, 16 [30.7%] had levels > 3 times, 4 [7.6%] had > 5 times and 5 [9.6%] had > 10 times of normal levels. Serum bilirubin was increased above the normal value in 20% and was greater than 3-folds in 4.9%. High frequency of thrombocytopenia [p < 0.009], pneumonia [p0.004], impaired renal function [p < 0.01] and disturbed coagulation profile [p < 0.01] were observed in patients with hepatic dysfunction. Overall, five [4.9%] patients expired and two [1.9%] of them had acute fulminant hepatic failure. We observed that liver is frequently involved in adult chickenpox patients and the severity of hepatic dysfunction ranges from mild elevation of transaminases levels to acute fulminant hepatic failure

Necrosis retinal aguda en un paciente pediátrico con leucemia aguda / Acute retinal necrosis in an acute leukemia pediatric patient

La necrosis retinal aguda (NRA) es una afección grave que amenaza la visión. Se describe en adultos, en especial aquellos profundamente inmunocompro-metidos, como consecuencia de la reactivación de virus del grupo herpes. Presentamos un paciente de 4 años de edad, con una leucemia de alto riesgo, que durante una quimioterapia intensa desarrolló una varicela con compromiso visceral, incluyendo la retina, lo que le causó ceguera unilateral. En el humor vitreo se detectó ADN de virus varicela-zoster, pese al tratamiento con aciclovir. La visión del ojo contralateral permaneció indemne.

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a serious condition that can impair vision. It mostly occurs in adult patients, especially those severely immunocompromised, in association with a reactivation of a herpes virus infection. We present a 4 years old patient with high risk acute leukemia, whom during a course of intense chemotherapy acquired chickenpox with visceral involvement that affected the retina, causing unilateral blindness. Varicella-zoster virus was detected by PCR in the vitreous humor, in spite of previous acyclovir treatment. The contralateral vision remained undamaged.

Varicela y herpes Zoster, informe de un caso / Varicella and herpes zoster, a case report

RESUMEN. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de tres años deedad traído a la consulta por presentar un cuadro clínico devaricela y herpes zoster.No tiene antecedentes personales ni familiares patológicos derelevancia, su esquema de vacunación es completo e incluye lavacuna de varicela al año de vida.Se indicó tratamiento ambulatorio con aciclovir.Se trata de una patología poco frecuente: se hallaron sólo trescasos publicados en la bibliografía internacional.Palabras clave: varicela, herpes zoster, aciclovir, vacuna de varicela.

Recurrent herpes zoster in early childhood.

Herpes Zoster is produced by reactivation of latent Varicella Zoster Virus from the dorsal root ganglion of sensory nerves. It is common in older individuals and rarely described in the pediatric age group. We report a case of recurrent herpes zoster in a 3-year-old HIV positive child involving T4 dermatome on the first occasion and subsequently involving T10 dermatome. The child responded well to oral acyclovir.

Lesiones de varicela en cavidad bucal: reporte de un caso / Chicken pox lesions in oral cavity: report of a case

La Varicela es una enfermedad viral que se presenta con frecuencia en la población infantil, cursa con lesiones cutáneas y en ciertas ocasiones en cavidad bucal. Se presenta un caso de paciente masculino de 5 años de edad, quien consulta por presentar lesiones en cavidad bucal, ademàs de las lesiones cutáneas. Fue tratado con antivirales tópico y sistémico, notándose mejoría de las lesiones en dos semanas.

The Chicken pox is a viral infection that is presented frequently in the infantile population, it presented with skin lesions and, in certain occasions, in oral cavity. A 5 years old male patient, who consult for present vesicles in oral cavity and skin lesions, it was treated with topical and systemic antiviral, being noticed improvement of the lesions in two weeks.

Refining criteria for diagnosis of cutaneous infections caused by herpes viruses through correlation of morphology with molecular pathology.

BACKGROUND: Infections of the skin by herpes viruses do not always present themselves in typical fashion. Early diagnosis, however, is crucial for appropriate treatment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows diagnosis and differential diagnosis of herpes virus infections, but the method is not yet available in large parts of the world, where diagnosis is made based on morphology alone. AIM: To refine criteria for the diagnosis of herpes virus infections of the skin by way of correlation of clinical and histopathologic findings with results of PCR studies. METHODS: We studied 75 clinically diagnosed patients of "zoster," "varicella," and "herpes simplex", to correlate clinical and histopathological findings with results of PCR studies on paraffin embedded biopsy specimens. RESULTS: Clinical suspicion of infection by herpes viruses was confirmed by histopathology in 37% of the cases and by PCR studies in 65% of the cases. Zoster was frequently misdiagnosed as infection with herpes simplex viruses (30%). When diagnostic signs of herpes virus infection were encountered histopathologically, PCR confirmed the diagnosis in 94%. By way of correlation with results of PCR studies, initial lesions of herpes virus infections could be identified to have a distinctive histopathological pattern. Herpetic folliculitis appeared to be a rather common finding in zoster, it occurring in 28% of the cases. CONCLUSION: We conclude that correlation of clinical and histopathological features with results of PCR studies on one and the same paraffin embedded specimen permits identification of characteristic morphologic patterns and helps to refine criteria for diagnosis both clinically and histopathologically.

Síndrome de shock tóxico fatal por estreptococo beta hemolítico del grupo A posterior a varicela / Fatal toxic shock syndrome caused by post-varicella group A streptococci infection

RESUMEN Introducción. El estreptococo beta hemolítico del grupo A está implicado en una variedad de procesos infecciosos, entre los que se incluye el shock tóxico. Es una de las complicaciones asociadas a la varicela.Cuadro clínico. Paciente de 2 años y 6 meses que presentó varicela 30 días previos al cuadro actual.Catorce horas antes del ingreso consultó en Emergencias por fiebre, dolor e impotencia funcional de miembro inferior izquierdo. Estaba en buen estado,afebril; presentaba motilidad activa conservada y limitada por dolor en rodilla izquierda. Se realizaron:radiografía de cadera normal, ecografías de cadera y rodillas normales. Se otorgó el egreso luego de descartar osteoartritis. Posteriormente consultó en otra institución, donde se observó similar condición clínica.Ingresó en emergencias en shock. Se realizó intubación endotraqueal, colocación de antibióticos EV,volumen e inotrópicos. La paciente falleció sin respuesta al tratamiento. En dos hemocultivos desarrolló estreptococo beta hemolítico del grupo A

Chicken pox associated thrombocytopenia in adults

To determine the frequency and magnitude of thrombocytopenia associated with chicken pox in adults. Observational descriptive study. Combined Military Hospital, Attock, from July 2003 to June 2004. All patients of age 15 years and above with history of fever, followed by appearance of the typical vesicular chicken pox rash, were inducted after informed consent. Two milliliters of whole blood was collected on day 1 of admission, and blood counts were performed. Patients were admitted and given 800 mg oral acyclovir, 5 times/day, for 7 days, in addition to symptomatic treatment. Patients were followed till 8 weeks. A total of 410 patients of chicken pox were received, out of which 270 were included. Age of patients ranged between 15 and 40 years with median age of 21 years. Platelet count on the day of admission ranged between 29 x109/L to 513 x109/L, mean platelet count 178 x109/L. Platelet count < 150 x109/L was detected in 80/270 [30%] patients. Platelet count in thrombocytopenia patients was from 29 x109/L to 149 x109/L with mean 121 x109/L. Thrombocytopenia recovered within 02 weeks in 78/80 [97%] patients. In 2 patients, thrombocytopenia recovered in 3 weeks. None of the patients developed purpuric spots, ecchymosis or bleeding manifestations. Thrombocytopenia in chicken pox is a common entity. Platelet count remains above 25x109 /L, which is usually not associated with bleeding manifestations. None of the patients in this series developed purpura. No specific pattern of total leukocyte counts was predictive of the progression or regression in platelet count