A Clinical Study of Chickenpox in Adult Inpatients / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus of herpes viridae and very contagious childhood disease. It is uncommon in adults and can be associated with serious complications. And chickenpox may be dangerous in adult patients, because the complications are more frequent in adults than children. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of chickenpox occurred in adults in Korea. METHODS: Total 100 cases of chickenpox inpatients over the 18 years of age were retrospectively evaluated in regard to monthly, seasonal incidence, sexual difference, age distribution, hospitalization period, transmission route, prodromal symptoms, cutaneous manifestations, the associated conditions, laboratory abnormalities, complications during 18 year period from 1991 to 2009. RESULTS: The results were as follows. 1. Monthly incidence of chickenpox was highest in May (20%), lowest in September (2%). The peak incidence on seasonal analysis was in Spring and Summer and the lowest incidence was in Autumn. 2. The ratio of males to females was 1.3 1. Chickenpox was seen most frequently in the 20-39 year age group (82%). 3. The mean onset time was 3.6 days, and the mean hospitalization period was 6.1 days. 4. The frequencies of the prodroml symptoms in chickenpox, in descending order, were fever (79%), sore throat (26%), myalgia (26%), itching (24%), chilling (21%), headache (9%), cough (8%), fatigue (4%), and appetite loss (2%). Common cutaneous manifestations were papules (97%), vesicles (95%), pustules (35%), crusts (29%). And mucosal involvement was observed in 6% of the patients. 5. Associated conditions of chickenpox were observed for 31 patients (31%); renal diseases (8%), dermatologic diseases (5%), hepatic diseases (4%), hypertension (4%), diabetes mellitus (3%) and so on. 6. The most common abnormal laboratory findings was abnormality of liver function test (23%). 7. The most common complications of chickenpox was secondary infections (12%), and others were acute pharyngotonsillitis (4%), viral pneumonia (4%), hepatitis (2%), keratoconjunctivitis (2%). CONCLUSION: Our data showed that the complications and laboratory abnormalities of chickenpox in adults are more common than in childhood.