A Case of Varicella Pneumonia in Healthy Adult / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Varicella (chicken pox) is a common and contagious childhood disease. Varicella is uncommon in adults but potentially life-threatening because of serious complications such as pneumonia, hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and encephalitis. Among them, varicella pneumonia is the most common and serious complication of varicella infection in adults, with a reported incidence in healthy adults that is 25-fold greater than in children. Herein, we described a case of varicella pneumonia in a 36 year old healthy male patient. The patient presented with disseminated vesicular lesions, a fever, cough and mild dyspnea. A Tzanck smear of a vesicle showed multinucleated giant cells. A chest radiograph showed multiple, tiny nodules in both lungs and lymphadenopathy in the perihilar area. The patient was successfully treated with systemic acyclovir and corticosteroid for 15 days.