[Fulminant pneumonia during varicella in an immunocompetent 16-month-old girl]

Abstract

Varicella is a cosmopolitan communicable disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) characterized by papulovesicular rash and fever. Management of fever and pruritus and prevention of bacterial infection are the main aspects of treatment. Severe complications and death may occur in pregnancy, in newborns, in adults, and in immunocompromised children. Contrary to immunocompetent adults in whom pneumonia occurs in 50% of cases during varicella, this complication in children is rare. We report a fatal case of pneumonia with severe hypoxemia during varicella in an immunocompetent 16-month-old child. Based on a literature review, we discuss the main aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of varicella. Active immunization of children after 12 months of age is the primary prevention of varicella.