[Varicella-zoster virus infection in children with Hodgkin's disease in advanced stages III and IV]

Abstract

Over a 10-year period, among 22 children with Hodgkin's disease (stages III and IV), 10 (45.5%) developed varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, varicella in 8 cases (36.4%) and herpes zoster (HZ) in 3 (13.6%) (one patient had varicella and six months later). Three patients with varicella had significant pneumonitis, one of them showed clinical evidence of dissemination and died. Two patients had localized HZ and one had disseminated HZ without visceral involvement. All cases of VZV infections occurred in the first year of treatment: the primary infection presented while patients were under induction therapy and the secondary one after radiotherapy.