Severe chickenpox after intranasal use of corticosteroids

Two children were hospitalized for severe chickenpox after intranasal use of corticosteroids for chronic sinusitis. One had unusually extensive cutaneous disease with delayed progression of lesions, dehydration, and prolonged fever; the other had hemorrhagic cutaneous lesions, hepatitis, and pneumonitis. Both were treated with intravenous acyclovir infusion and recovered. Systemic or local immunosuppression after intranasal corticosteroid administration may have predisposed the children to severe varicella infection.