Pediatr. praxi. 2016;17(3):137-140 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2016.031

Varicella complications in children

MUDr.Renata Kračmarová

Klinika infekčních nemocí FN a LF Hradec Králové

Varicella (chickenpox) is a common infectious disease of childhood. Primary varicella zoster virus infection appears most often in children

and the course of the disease is usually benign. Complications can be expected in well known risk groups – adults, newborns and

infants, immunocompromised patients and during pregnancy – even though in otherwise healthy child the course of varicella may be

complicated. A higher incidence of pneumonia is typical for risk group patients. A secondary bacterial infection of skin lesions (usually

streptococcal or staphylococcal) presents another serious complication that may lead to focal soft tissue involvement or to severe generalised

infection. Among possible neurological complications, cerebellar ataxia is the most frequent one in children and usually has

a good outcome. VZV vasculopathy, a productive viral infection of cerebral arteries, comes rarely on and can cause ischaemic strokes even

in children. Active immunisation still remains the most effective way to reduce the number of severe varicella complications in children.

Keywords: chickenpox, complications, virus varicella-zoster

Published: August 1, 2016  Show citation