Hemorrhagic Pericarditis in a child with primary varicella infection (chickenpox)

• Main Authors: Nandeesh B, Mahadevan Anita, Yasha T, Shankar S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-04-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology
• Subjects: Chicken pox; deep vein thrombosis; hemorrhagic pericarditis; septic infarction
• Online Access: http://www.ijpmonline.org/article.asp?issn=0377-4929;year=2009;volume=52;issue=2;spage=237;epage=239;aulast=Nandeesh

Chickenpox (Varicella) representing the primary infection by Varicella zoster virus is a common benign and self-limited infectious disease of childhood. Although the disease can be associated with complications, they are generally mild and tend to occur in adults and immunocompromised children. Severe and life-threatening complications are extremely rare, particularly those involving the cardiovascular system. We report a malnourished 5-year-old girl with chicken pox complicated by hemorrhagic pericarditis and deep vein thrombosis leading to fatal pulmonary thromboembolism. Though varicella infection runs a benign self-limiting course, it continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality when associated with complications, particularly in malnourished children. Hence, the importance of vaccination and early recognition of complications is emphasized.