Fatal varicella infections in Singapore

Varicella (chickenpox) is common in Singapore. The annual incidence of reported cases for the period 1977-1990 ranged from 790 to 18,934, with a mean of 4,747. Mortality from chickenpox is rare. However, failure to recognise the severity and the potential complications of the disease, especially in immunocompetent patients, exists because of the common knowledge that chickenpox is a mild and self-limiting illness. We report six cases of fatal varicella in immunocompetent patients during the period 1988 to 1990.