Korean J Dermatol.  2007 Apr;45(4):394-396.

A Case of Varicella Pneumonia in Healthy Adult

• Shin YM
• Moon SK
• Kim CW
• Shin DH
• Choi JS
• Kim KH

Abstract

Varicella (chicken pox) is a common and contagious childhood disease. Varicella is uncommon in adults but potentially life-threatening because of serious complications such as pneumonia, hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and encephalitis. Among them, varicella pneumonia is the most common and serious complication of varicella infection in adults, with a reported incidence in healthy adults that is 25-fold greater than in children. Herein, we described a case of varicella pneumonia in a 36 year old healthy male patient. The patient presented with disseminated vesicular lesions, a fever, cough and mild dyspnea. A Tzanck smear of a vesicle showed multinucleated giant cells. A chest radiograph showed multiple, tiny nodules in both lungs and lymphadenopathy in the perihilar area. The patient was successfully treated with systemic acyclovir and corticosteroid for 15 days.

Keyword

Healthy adult; Varicella; Varicella pneumonia

MeSH Terms

Acyclovir
Adult*
Chickenpox*
Child
Cough
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Dyspnea
Encephalitis
Fever
Giant Cells
Hepatitis
Humans
Incidence
Lung
Lymphatic Diseases
Male
Pneumonia*
Radiography, Thoracic
Acyclovir