Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 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

14.5K

Varicella zoster virus central nervous system immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome presenting in a child

Mildred A Iro1, Fenella J Kirkham, Jason H M Macdonald

  • 1From the *Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford; Department of †Pediatric Neurology and ‡Neuroradiology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; §Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton; ¶Department of Pediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Southampton Children's Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom; ‖Department of Pediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; and **NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|October 22, 2013
PubMed

Insights

A pediatric case of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) occurred in a child with HIV. This rare central nervous system complication followed antiretroviral therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is crucial for managing pediatric HIV.
  • Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) can occur as the immune system recovers during HAART.
  • Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in IRIS is a serious complication.

Observation:

  • A child with HIV developed acute right hemiplegia, facial palsy, and dysphasia.
  • Neurological symptoms appeared four weeks after initiating HAART.
  • Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left-sided infarct.

Findings:

  • Cerebrospinal fluid analysis detected varicella zoster virus (VZV) via polymerase chain reaction.
  • This case represents the first documented pediatric VZV-related CNS IRIS.
  • The findings highlight a novel presentation of IRIS in pediatric HIV.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider VZV-related CNS IRIS in immunocompromised children presenting with focal neurological deficits after HAART initiation.
  • Early diagnosis and appropriate management are critical for improving outcomes.
  • This case expands the spectrum of known IRIS presentations and emphasizes the importance of vigilant monitoring in pediatric HIV patients.

More Related Videos

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

2.3K
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

19.1K

Related Concept Videos

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...
108
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis 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...
29
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
70
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis 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...
32
Immunodeficiency Diseases01:25

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
3.8K
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions01:19

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immune-Complex Reactions

Type III hypersensitivity reactions occur when antigen–antibody complexes form and activate the complement system. Normally, these complexes help the clearance of antigens by phagocytes and red blood cells. However, when large numbers of immune complexes are present, they can deposit in tissues—particularly in the walls of blood vessels—leading to inflammation and tissue injury. These deposits trigger complement activation and neutrophil recruitment, resulting in serum...
287