DR Medhat MRCP

• Complications :
A. Common complication is secondary bacterial infection of the lesions.
B. Other complications include
‏(سؤال • Varicella Pneumonia ( the most common & serious complication in adult
• Encephalitis (cerebellar involvement may be seen).
• Disseminated haemorrhagic chickenpox.
• Arthritis, nephritis and pancreatitis may very rarely be seen.
• Varicella zoster in pregnancy :
- In pregnancy there is a risk to both the mother and also the fetus , a syndrome
now termed fetal varicella syndrome .
Chickenpox esposure in pregnancy – the first step is to check antibodies
Fetal varicella syndrome (FVS) :
• Risk of FVS following maternal varicella exposure is around 1% if occurs before 20
weeks gestation
• Studies have shown a very small number of cases occurring between 20-28 weeks
gestation and none following 28 weeks
• Features of FVS include :
o Skin scarring.
o Eye defects (microphthalmia).
o limb hypoplasia.
o Microcephaly and learning disabilities.
Management of chickenpox exposure in pregnancy :
1) Check varicella antibodies
+ve (i.e immune mother)
-ve (i.e non-immune mother)
Nothing to be done
Give varicella zoster Ig (VZIG) as soon as possible
(VZIG is effective upto 10 days post exposure)
2) If pregnant woman with chickenpox presented within 24 hours of appearance of rash
Give oral aciclovir
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