Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
10:02
A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy
Published on: November 3, 2016
[Chickenpox--neurological complications in children]
Ilona Kopyta1, Katarzyna Wojaczńska-Stanek, Elzbieta Marszał
1Katedry i Kliniki Pediatrii i Neurologii Wieku Rozwojowego Slaskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Katowicach. ilonakopyta@autograf.pl
Wiadomosci Lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
|March 21, 2008
Summary
Chickenpox can cause serious neurological complications in children, though they rarely lead to permanent issues. Routine vaccination is recommended to prevent these severe outcomes and associated healthcare costs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Chickenpox (varicella) is a common childhood illness, typically mild.
- However, severe cases and complications, including neurological ones, can occur in pediatric patients.
- Varicella-zoster virus infection can lead to serious conditions like encephalitis, meningitis, and stroke.
Observation:
- This study details 5 pediatric cases with diverse neurological complications from chickenpox.
- The observed neurological sequelae were not permanent in these children.
- Hospitalization costs and activity exclusion highlight the impact of these complications.
Findings:
- Neurological complications of chickenpox, while rare, present a significant concern in pediatric cases.
- The presented cases demonstrate that even without permanent damage, these complications disrupt a child's life.
- The economic and social burden associated with these severe chickenpox manifestations is considerable.
Implications:
- The findings support the recommendation for routine chickenpox vaccination in children.
- Vaccination can prevent severe neurological complications, reducing healthcare burdens.
- Preventive measures like vaccination are crucial for safeguarding child health and well-being.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Chickenpox
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,...
01:17Poliomyelitis
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...
01:24Smallpox
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.
01:26Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
01:19Encephalitis l: Introduction
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
01:28Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...