[Varicella in children]. / Varicella hos barn.

Chickenpox in childhood is a milder condition than in older patients, but serious and even fatal complications may occur. Complications occur especially in immunosuppressed individuals, but can also be seen in previously healthy children. In Norway, children with varicella and complications have traditionally been hospitalized in departments of medicine. After the new Department of Paediatrics was opened at Ulleval University Hospital in 1998, we have been able to isolate them there. This article describes our experience with these children and discuss our current policy guidelines. We review issues relating to isolation, contagiousness, prevention, complications and treatment, and recommendations from the literature.