• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.46 no.10
• /
• pp.1047-1050
• /
• 2003

Maternal varicella resulting in viremia may transmit the virus to the fetus by either transplacental spread, or by ascending infection from lesion in the birth canal. The characteristic symptoms consist of skin lesions in dermatomal distribution, eye diseases, neurological defects, and limb hypoplasia. Varicella of the newborn is a life-threatening illness that may occur when a newborn is delivered either within five days of the onset of the illness or after postdelivery exposure to varicella. The severity of neonatal disease is dependent upon the timing of maternal illness. The clinical approach to varicella of newborns should emphasize prevention. Our patient was the first child of a 31-year-old mother who had varicella-zoster ten days before delivery. The child showed muscular hypotonia, poor feeding but no skin lesions.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.71-73
• /
• 2008

Herpes zoster in childhood is uncommon, but it is more common in association with immunosuppression. Maternal varicella infection during pregnancy and varicella occurring in the newborn represent risk for childhood herpes zoster. However, some controversies persist on risk factors, diagnosis, and the natural history of childhood disease. We report a 10-year-old healthy boy with shingles and review the risk factors, prognosis, and treatment of pediatric zoster.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2004

Chickenpox is a common childhood infection that generally resolves without complications. But maternal chickenpox near term, or soon after delivery, can cause severe or fatal illness in the newborn. The severity of neonatal chickenpox is closely related to the time of maternal infection and the fatality is reported up to 30%. Although chickenpox is thought to be a mild disease, complications are frequent in neonates and immunocompromised children. The diagnosis of neonatal chickenpox is usually based on the typical clinical feature, the characteristic point in time and the maternal history of chickenpox. Serologic methods have been widely used to confirm clinical diagnosis. To prevent severe neonatal chickenpox, passive immunization is indicated. If varicella occurs, acyclovir treatment has to be done promptly. But the use of acyclovir in symptomatic healthy infant is controversial. We report a case of neonatal chickenpox that was infected by an asymptomatic infected mother and rapid improvement of varicella skin lesions without complications after intravenous acyclovir administration.