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[Disseminated intravascular coagulation in chickenpox. Report of a case in a child]
L Tucciarone1, A Tomassini, A Colasanti
1Istituto di Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Chickenpox (Varicella-Zoster virus) can cause severe disseminated intravascular coagulation in healthy children. This case highlights the importance of not underestimating chickenpox complications and considering antiviral therapy and vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
Background:
- Chickenpox, caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus, is common in childhood.
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare but serious complication.
- Immunocompetent children are generally considered low-risk for severe varicella complications.
Observation:
- A healthy, immunocompetent five-year-old boy developed severe DIC during a chickenpox infection.
- Clinical manifestations included macroscopic hematuria, necrotic purpura, and cerebrovascular thrombosis.
- The patient experienced a complete recovery despite the severity of DIC.
Findings:
- This case demonstrates that severe DIC can occur in low-risk children with chickenpox.
- Varicella-Zoster virus infection can lead to life-threatening hematological emergencies.
- Prompt recognition and management are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Implications:
- Chickenpox should not be underestimated, even in healthy children.
- Further data on the population-level impact of chickenpox complications are needed.
- This supports the debate on the benefits of early antiviral treatment and Varicella-Zoster virus vaccination.
Abstract:
The case of a healthy and immunocompetent five-year-old boy, who developed a disseminated intravascular coagulation during chickenpox is described. Disseminated intravascular coagulation manifestations were extremely severe and included macroscopic hematuria, necrotic purpura and cerebrovascular thrombosis. The outcome in this patient was a complete recovery. Nevertheless, the possibility of a seriously complicated course of chickenpox even in low-risk children subgroups suggests that the Varicella-Zoster virus infection should not be underestimated. More accurate information about the impact of chickenpox and its complications on the population is needed, in order to provide a contribution for the debate about the costs associated with this disease and the potential benefits of both the early antiviral therapy and the vaccinal prophylaxis.