Varicella hepatitis without neurologic symptoms or findings

Varicella hepatitis has been reported frequently in immunocompromised patients and occasionally in adults with varicella pneumonia and/or systemic involvement. However, hepatitis is not generally known to occur in otherwise uncomplicated varicella. Six children are described who had typical varicella in association with transient elevation of liver enzymes. No CNS abnormalities were noted, and all recovered uneventfully. Such patients have previously been described as representing stage I of Reye's syndrome. The authors postulate that hepatitis complicating varicella may well represent a distinct entity which bears no relationship to Reye's syndrome.