Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 13, 2026

Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
08:04

Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

Published on: July 9, 2014

Fatal outcome of varicella in children

Gerhard Kernbach-Wighton1, Manfred Oehmichen, Klaus-Steffen Saternus

  • 1Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Göttingen, Windausweg 2, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany. gkernba@gwdg.de

Legal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|August 26, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Severe chicken-pox (varicella) can be fatal in children, even with medical care. This paper details two fatal cases of varicella pneumonia, highlighting rare, severe complications.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Varicella (chicken-pox) is a common childhood illness, with severe complications being rare.
  • Lethal outcomes from varicella are exceptionally uncommon, occurring in approximately 0.03 per thousand cases.

Observation:

  • The study presents two pediatric cases of sudden death attributed to varicella infections.
  • Both children, aged 3 and 7, exhibited disseminated varicella lesions in various stages.
  • Autopsies revealed significant involvement of the respiratory system, heart, lungs, and liver.

Findings:

  • One case involved immunological confirmation of acute varicella infection.
  • Histological and virological analyses identified uncommon severe varicella presentations: hemorrhagic form and massive abscess-forming pneumonia.
  • Neuropathological findings were also considered in the analysis.

Implications:

  • These cases underscore the potential for severe, fatal varicella presentations in children, even with medical attention.
  • Understanding these rare, aggressive forms of varicella is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
  • The findings contribute to the literature on pediatric infectious disease mortality and severe varicella sequelae.

More Related Videos

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain05:51

Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain

Published on: July 24, 2016

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis08:44

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis

Published on: September 7, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Smallpox01:24

Smallpox

Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
Chickenpox01:20

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...