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Infectious disease capsules: a pox on your house
Steven D Burdette1, Jack M Bernstein
1Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Wright State University School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45428, USA.
Skinmed
|July 14, 2004
Summary
A previously healthy adult male developed severe varicella pneumonia after exposure to chickenpox. Prompt treatment with intravenous acyclovir led to rapid improvement, highlighting the risk of primary varicella infection in unvaccinated adults.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
- Virology
Background:
- Adult primary varicella infection is rare but can lead to severe complications.
- Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) can cause pneumonia, particularly in immunocompetent adults.
Observation:
- A 31-year-old man presented with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and a diffuse vesicular rash.
- Physical exam revealed tachycardia, wheezes, rhonchi, and interstitial infiltrates on chest X-ray.
- Laboratory findings included mild thrombocytopenia.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with acute varicella pneumonia following recent exposure to chickenpox.
- Treatment with intravenous acyclovir resulted in rapid clinical improvement.
- The patient had no prior history of varicella infection despite multiple exposures.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential severity of primary VZV infection in adults.
- Prompt diagnosis and antiviral therapy are crucial for managing varicella pneumonia.
- Adult vaccination against varicella should be considered to prevent such severe outcomes.