Disseminated Varicella Infection in a Child Receiving Short-Term Steroids for Asthma
Address correspondence to Chang-Teng Wu, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Children’s Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 5 Fu-Hsin Street, Kwei-Shan 333, Taoyuan, Taiwan, or e-mail: [email protected].
Abstract
Abstract: An 8-year-old boy, treated with a short course of steroids for asthma, developed a fever with abdominal pain and a generalized vesicular rash after contact with varicella-infected classmates. The clinical presentation was disseminated varicella infection with multiple organ involvement. We confirmed varicella zoster virus using a direct fluorescent antibody test. This report demonstrates the increased risk of complicated varicella associated with the use of corticosteroids, even for a short period of time.
