Acute varicella-zoster

Acute varicella-zoster (chickenpox) normally presents in childhood and is usually self-limiting.

Adults, pregnant women, immunosuppressed patients, and neonates are at high risk of complications from varicella, including pneumonia, neurological sequelae, hepatitis, secondary bacterial infection, and death.

Patients in high-risk categories should receive treatment with antiviral therapy.

While most countries in Europe do not currently vaccinate children against varicella, vaccination strategies differ widely within the EU, with a few countries incorporating the vaccine into routine childhood vaccination, and others recommending it to susceptible adolescents and adults. In the US, varicella vaccine is currently recommended for immunocompetent children and susceptible adults (e.g., healthcare workers, those occupationally exposed to children, people admitted to hospital, military recruits).

Patients with high risk for severe disease who have had significant exposure to the virus and in whom the vaccine is contraindicated (i.e., neonates, pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and those receiving high-dose systemic immunosuppressive therapy) may receive immunoprophylaxis or post-exposure antiviral prophylaxis.

Varicella (chickenpox), one of the childhood exanthems, is caused by the human alpha herpes virus, varicella zoster. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is an exclusively human virus. The incubation period is about 14 days (range 9 to 21 days). Varicella is characterised by fever, malaise, and a generalised pruritic, vesicular rash. The disease normally presents in childhood and is usually self-limiting. Adverse outcomes are more common in immunocompromised people, adolescents, adults, and pregnant women.