Infecciones por virus varicela zoster en menores de 15 años con cáncer / Infections caused by Varicella Zoster virus in children with cancer aged less than 15 years old
Rev. méd. Chile
;
131(7): 759-764, jul. 2003.
Article
in Spanish
| LILACS
| ID: lil-356064
RESUMO
BACKGROUND:
Infections caused by Varicella Zoster virus in children with cancer have a high rate of complications and mortality.AIM:
To report the outcome of this infection in children with cancer. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
Retrospective analysis of medical records of 216 children aged less than 15 years old with the diagnosis of an hematological or solid tumor, admitted to the National Program of Antineoplastic Drugs (PINDA).RESULTS:
Eighty seven children had a Varicella Zoster virus infections, 73 (84 per cent) had varicella, 8 (9 per cent) had herpes zoster and 6 (7 per cent) had varicella and herpes zoster. Ninety four percent acquired the infection during antineoplastic treatment and 78 per cent received Acyclovir as antiviral therapy. During a nosocomial outbreak of varicella, three patients with an Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia died in the initial phase of chemotherapy, in spite of an early administration of Acyclovir. No patient with herpes zoster died.CONCLUSIONS:
The incidence of varicella was higher in children with leukemia or lymphoma than in children with other types of cancer. Virus reactivation was uncommon and had a benign course. Varicella mortality in these children could be favorably modified through an active immunization of immunocompetent children.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Chickenpox
/
Herpes Zoster
/
Neoplasms
Type of study:
Incidence study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Infant, Newborn
Language:
Spanish
Journal:
Rev. méd. Chile
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2003
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Chile
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidad Austral de Chile/CL
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS