Effects of Intravenous Immunoglobulin and Acyclovir in Preventing Neonatal Varicella
1Department of Family Medicine, Trang Hospital, 69 Khokkhan Rd, Tubtiang, Muang, Trang 92000, Thailand.
Neonatal varicella mostly results from maternal varicella. The disease can cause presentation ranging from mild symptoms to varicella pneumonia, hepatitis, meningoencephalitis, or fatality. If the mother develops symptoms implying varicella 4-5 days antepartum to 2 days postpartum, the mortality rate of the baby may reach 20%. We report a case of neonatal varicella from maternal varicella. The patient's mother initially developed maculopapular rash over her trunk 1 day after giving birth; she had a family member in the same household diagnosed with herpes zoster recently, and another member with diagnosed varicella, whose rash disappeared before the patient's birth. On the baby's third day of life, discrete vesicular rashes on erythematous background and discrete erythematous maculopapular rashes were found over his trunk, arms, and legs. The baby was subsequently diagnosed with neonatal varicella and was treated by intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) because there was no varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) available in the hospital, and also, intravenous acyclovir was given for 7 days. The rash completely resolved by the baby's fifth day of life, without any complications. The combination of IVIG and acyclovir might not effectively prevent neonatal varicella, but the medication could prevent the baby from developing serious complications and shorten the clinical course.
Neonatal varicella mostly results from maternal varicella. The disease can cause presentation ranging from mild symptoms to varicella pneumonia, hepatitis, meningoencephalitis, or fatality. If the mother develops symptoms implying varicella 4-5 days antepartum to 2 days postpartum, the mortality rate of the baby may reach 20%. We report a case of neonatal varicella from maternal varicella. The patient's mother initially developed maculopapular rash over her trunk 1 day after giving birth; she had a family member in the same household diagnosed with herpes zoster recently, and another member with diagnosed varicella, whose rash disappeared before the patient's birth. On the baby's third day of life, discrete vesicular rashes on erythematous background and discrete erythematous maculopapular rashes were found over his trunk, arms, and legs. The baby was subsequently diagnosed with neonatal varicella and was treated by intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) because there was no varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) available in the hospital, and also, intravenous acyclovir was given for 7 days. The rash completely resolved by the baby's fifth day of life, without any complications. The combination of IVIG and acyclovir might not effectively prevent neonatal varicella, but the medication could prevent the baby from developing serious complications and shorten the clinical course.
More Related Videos
05:51Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
Published on: July 24, 2016
05:53Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
Published on: July 6, 2013
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:30Acute Pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
01:30Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion