Varicella is a highly contagious and almost
universal; an estimated 60 million cases
occur worldwide each year. Ziebold et al.
(2001) noted that varicella is benign disease
of childhood, but in immunocompromised
individuals the disease is severe.
Complications of varicella requiring
hospitalization in children are becoming
more frequent in recent years than
previously thought. Almuneef et al. (2006)
considered that the predominance of
uncomplicated cases confounds the
morbidity and mortality associated with
severe varicella.
According to the review of Arvin (1996) the
most common cause of varicella-related
morbidity in previously healthy children is
secondary bacterial infection of skin lesions
followed by soft tissue infections and
pneumonia. In the present case only few
pustulized skin lesions were observed but
more of rash units were vesicles with
hemorrhagic fluid.
Arvin (1996) noted that neurologic
complications are the second most frequent
indication for hospitalization of
immunocompetent children with varicella.
Meningoencephalitis and cerebellar ataxia
are the major clinical manifestations of CNSinvolvement.
These complications are most
common in patients younger than 5 years
and older than 20 years. Cerebellar ataxia
has benign prognosis. The same author
mentioned that transverse myelitis, causing
paraplegia and sensory deficits, and
transient hemiplegia due to cerebral
vasculitis are rare complications. In the
present case, there was only ataxia, which
lasted five days and completely resolved
after treatment. This allows us to assume
that it is a transient effect to the cerebellum.
Lack of signs of meningeal irritation and
severe diffuse widespread hemorrhagicnecrotic
rash did not give us reason to
realize lumbar puncture and computed
tomography (CT), much less nuclear
magnetic resonance (NMR).