[Varicella is not always benign]

Varicella is a rash illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It mainly affects children with usually a benign outcome. However, several complications of variable severity can be observed including bacterial infectious complications and neurological complications. We report two cases of complicated varicella. Case 1: 5 month old baby with no previous pathological history presenting with a rash composed of vesicles and pustules lasting for six days. Symptoms worsened the day before his admission to our Department due to respiratory distress. Case 2: 7-Year old girl admitted to our Department due to simple convulsion. Clinical examination showed generalized varicella scars and cerebellar ataxia. Although varicella is a common, in most cases benign viral disease, several studies have recently reported a recrudescence of complications, which appear to be responsible for 0.2-1.5% of the causes of hospitalization in children with varicella.