REVIEW - Varicella zoster virus: atypical presentations and unusual complications

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J Infect Dis. 2002 Oct 15;186 Suppl 1:S91-8.

Varicella-zoster virus: atypical presentations and unusual complications.

Gnann JW Jr.

University of Alabama at Birmingham and Birmingham VA Medical Center,

Birmingham, Alabama 35294-2170, USA.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of varicella (primary

infection) and herpes zoster (reactivation of latent infection). Although

varicella is most often a relatively benign and self-limited childhood

illness, the disease can be associated with a variety of serious and

potentially lethal complications in both immunocompetent and

immunocompromised persons. One complication of varicella that appears to be

increasing in frequency is serious bacterial soft tissue infections caused

by group A streptococci. Issues related to management of varicella become

especially complex when varicella involves pregnant women or susceptible

neonates. Herpes zoster can be associated with a variety of neurologic

complications, including a syndrome of delayed contralateral hemiparesis.

Neurologic complications of herpes zoster, including chronic encephalitis,

occur with increased frequency in AIDS patients. VZV retinitis is a

potentially sight-threatening complication that occurs in both

immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. Current knowledge regarding

pathogenesis and antiviral therapy is reviewed.

PMID: 12353193

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=12353193 & itool=iconabstr & query_hl=42 & itool=pubmed_DocSum

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