[Significance of varicella zoster infection in pregnancy and labor]. / A terhesek és szülönök varicella-zoster vírusinfekciójának jelentösége.

The authors observed 25 pregnant or delivering women with varicella and their offsprings from 1986 to 1991. The course of varicella of the pregnant and delivering mothers was generally benign, only one progressive case was observed with pneumonitis after delivery; this woman also recovered upon acyclovir treatment. All but one woman delivered on term, in one case the varicella developed on the 27th gestational week; this woman gave birth to a premature baby of 1180 g who died from a cerebral and lung hemorrhage. No sign of varicella-zoster virus infection was found at the autopsy. No congenital varicella syndrome was observed during the investigation period. Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin was given to 21 newborn babies, immediately after birth. Eight of the newborns developed varicella, the course of the disease was mild in seven cases. One baby who was given no varicella-zoster immunoglobulin and developed progressive varicella recovered after acyclovir therapy. During the investigation period the authors observed three cases of zoster in infants whose mothers had had varicella during pregnancy. The authors discuss the possibilities of prevention of varicella-zoster virus infection of newborns and infants.

[Hearing loss resulting from purulent meningitis in the light of adjuvant dexamethasone therapy]. / A purulens meningitist követö halláskárosodás az adjuváns dexamethason kezelés tükrében.

Results of objective audiometry of 109 infants and children after purulent meningitis are presented. Among them 17 patients got dexamethasone as a supportive therapy. There was no statistically significant difference in hearing loss between the dexamethasone-treated and the control group. (41 vs 43% sensorineural hearing loss respectively). Authors do not contraindicate the dexamethasone therapy in purulent meningitis because of its harmlessness and useful effect to the course of the disease but further investigations are needed for avoidance of hearing loss following meningitis.

Congenital varicella syndrome.

The authors are reporting a typical case of congenital varicella syndrome following maternal varicella during the 17th week of pregnancy. At birth, the newborn showed necrotic bullae on the skin that healed later with characteristic scars. Other typical anomalies, i.e. hypoplastic limbs with muscular atrophy and clubfoot, intrauterine atrophy, dysphagia and anisocoria were also found. In view of the risk of serious malformations following intrauterine varicella infection attempts should be made to prevent varicella zoster virus infection during pregnancy.

[Clinical experiences with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy of infectious diseases in infancy and childhood]. / Klinische Erfahrungen mit der intravenösen Immunglobulintherapie septischer Krankheiten im Säuglings- und Kindesalter.

In 26 infants with severe sepsis antibacterial therapy was supplemented by the intravenous administration of immunoglobulins (Endobulin, Immuno AG, Vienna). Such therapy was indicated in 6 patients by the appearance of granulocytopenia during the treatment of their underlying disease, in 14 children by their very young age which was less than 2 years, and in 6 children by the failure of antibacterial therapy to produce the desired effect. Depending on the clinical picture of sepsis different organ manifestations were seen, purulent meningitis (10 cases) and pneumonia (9 cases) being the most frequent. In 24 patients immunoglobulin therapy led to complete recovery. In all 7 cases of purulent meningitis, the simultaneous administration of antibiotics and immunoglobulins was effective.