Life-threatening complications of varicella
G. Fleisher, W. Henry, M. McSorley, A. Arbeter and S. Plotkin
We reviewed the records of 96 children hospitalized with varicella from
July 1, 1975 to June 30, 1980. Eighty-one were immunologically normal and
15 were immunocompromised on the basis of neoplasia, immunosuppressive
therapy, or genetic disease. These children experienced 106 complications
including viral dissemination-encephalitis (44), bacterial infection (25),
Reye's syndrome (17), unusual cutaneous lesions (eight), drug overdose
(five), diabetic ketoacidosis (two), neonatal infection (two), dehydration
(two), and exacerbation of preexisting nephrosis (one). The length of
hospitalization varied from one to 38 days with a median of five days.
There were ten varicella pneumonia (one), of neonatal varicella (one), and
of a ruptured mycotic aneurysm secondary to septicemia (one). This review
demonstrates (1) a substantial occurrence of life-threatening complications
of varicella in childhood, and (2) a need for prospective epidemiologic
data on the incidence of complications to determine the scope and extent of
varicella vaccination.
