Ganciclovir for severe neonatal varicella pneumonia when acyclovir is unavailable: a case report

Perinatal varicella is a rare and severe condition with a high mortality rate, particularly when it leads to complications such as pneumonia in neonates. Acyclovir is the standard treatment for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections; however, limited options exist when it is unavailable. This case report describes the successful treatment of neonatal varicella pneumonia with ganciclovir and provides insights into its potential as an alternative therapy. A female Asian neonate was admitted to our hospital on the 9th day of life with a rash, fever, and respiratory distress. Her mother developed varicella at 39 weeks of pregnancy, four days before delivery. The infant was diagnosed with VZV pneumonia based on clinical presentation and confirmed by detection of VZV DNA in blood(metagenomic next-generation sequencing detected 109,491 sequences with 100% relative abundance and 99% confidence).

Ganciclovir 5 mg/kg every 12 h for 8 days; intravenous immunoglobulin 400 mg/kg once daily for 3 days.

The infant was successfully weaned off mechanical ventilation, with normalized blood gas parameters (PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio 346) and inflammatory markers (CRP decreased from 29.44 mg/L to 2.87 mg/L). She was discharged home with stable breathing and crusted skin lesions. Telephone follow-up at 2 and 4 weeks post-discharge confirmed the infant remained well with no respiratory symptoms or developmental concerns.

Ganciclovir may serve as a life-saving alternative for severe neonatal VZV pneumonia when acyclovir is unavailable. This case highlights the need for further research to establish its safety, optimal dosing, and efficacy in this population.