Ernstige complicaties van waterpokken

Three immunocompetent children were admitted to the hospital because of varicella-related complications. The first patient developed a bacterial pneumonia secondary to a varicella infection which ultimately lead to a debridement using Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery. The second patient presented with a left peripheral facial paralysis and vesicular lesions in de left auricle. Liquor investigations were positive for the varicella zoster virus and she was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The last patient was referred to the emergency department with possible absence seizures. These seizures turned out to be caused by an ischemic stroke due to post-varicella arteriopathy. All patients were previously healthy and had no risk factors for varicella-related complications. We conclude that varicella-related complications should also be considered in immunocompetent children, even when the primary infection took place months ago. Patients with severe varicella-related complications need to be referred to a medical specialist where anti-viral therapy should be considered.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.