[Prevention of varicella in children on immunosuppressive therapy (author's transl)]

The mortality rate due to varicella in patients on cytostatic therapy is high. However, during the first 72 hours after infection, an effective protection can be given with Varicella/Zoster-Immunoglobulin (ZIG). This article deals with 172 cases with malignant diseases. These children who were on polychemotherapy contacted varicella. They were treated with ZIG 0,2 ml/kg per body weight in 15% concentration. After triple dilution ZIG was administered intravenous to 151 patients and undiluted intramuscular to 21 patients. ZIG was well tolerated. Only 3 children had varicella and even this was in a mild form. The donors of ZIG were selected through a screening program.