DEFINITION
Varicella ( Latin), ~ cacar air Varicella (chickenpox) is a highly contagious disease of childhood and occasionaly adulthood, caused by a primary infection with a complex herpes group DNA virus, the varicella-zoster virus.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Varicella is distributed worldwide, but its age specific incidence differs in temperate versus tropical climates and in those population who have received the varicella vaccine. No sex predilection. Childhood > adulthood.
ETIOLOGY
Caused by Varicella zoster virus(VZV) Varicella zoster virus is a member of the herpes virus family
PATHOGENESIS
The usual route of transmission: airborne droplets, direct contact During primary varicella infection, viremia follows an initial 2 to 4 days of replication in regional lymph nodes
Pathogenesis...
In primary viremia: A primary viremia spreads the virus to reticuloendothelial cells in the spleen, liver, and elsewhere In this phase viremia also spreads on upper respiratory tract
Pathogenesis
In secondary viremia: A secondary viremia develops after a second cycle of viral replication in the liver, spleen and other organs and seeda the entire body The virus travels to the epidermis by invasion of capillary endhotelial clls approximately 14 to 16 days post exposure
Pathogenesis
The VZV subsequently travels from cutaneus and mucosal lesions to invade dorsal root ganglion cells where it remains until reactivation at a later date.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
The incubation: a range of 11 - 20 days. Primary varicella usually begins as a prodrome of fever, chills, malaise, myalgia, headache, anorexia and backache occur 2-3 days before the eruption.
Clinical manifestations
In eruptive phase, the rash usually appears first on the face and scalp and spreads rapidly on the trunk, and then the extremities (centripetal distribution) The rash progress rapidly from erythematous macules to papules, vesicles, pustules, and crusts.
Fig.3 A thin walled vesicle with clear fluid forms on a red base give the characteristic appearance of a Dewdrop on a rose petal
Fig.4 The vesicle becomes cloudy and depressed in the center (umbilicated)
Fig.5 A crust forms in the center and eventually replaces the remaining portion of the vesicle at the periphery
LABORATORY TEST
Tzanck smear The procedure by scrape the base of an early vesicle and stain with hematoxylin-eosin, Giemsa, Papanicolaou, or Paragon multiple stain to demonstrate multinucleated giant cell. Culture virus The definitive diagnosis of VZV is accomplished by the isolation of virus in cell culture inoculated with vesicle fluid, blood, cerebrospinal fluid and infected tissue.
laboratory test
Serologic test The main value of serologic test is the assesment of the immune status of immunocompromised patients. There are qualitative and quantitative test that measure IgG and IgM antibodies.
DIAGNOSIS
Varicella can usually be diagnosed readily on the basis of the appearance and evolution of its characteristic rash, especially when there is a history of exposure.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES
1. Herpes simplex
The different are on herpes simplex the grouped vesicles on an erythematous base appear. Ussualy located in labial and genital
differential diagnoses
2. Contact dermatitis
In contact dermatitis the chief complaint is itch. Contact dermatitis is not associated with the clinical prodrome and commonly involve the extremitas
The lesions of variola present more commonly in concentration on the face and extremitas at the same rate and same stage of development
differential diagnoses
4. Impetigo bullous
Usually occur in face, extremitas, trunk, buttocks, perineum. If bulla ruptur leaving a rim of scale around an erythematous moist base.
differential diagnoses
5. Drug eruption
THERAPY
General : Relieve itching by calamine lotion topical, tepid baths with baking soda or clloidal oatmeal Diet and maintain hydration No activity restiction Discourage scratching to avoid scarring. Trimming the child's fingernails and having the child wear mittens while sleeping may reduce scratching
therapy
Antiviral therapy Children : acyclovir, 20 mg/kg four times a day for 5 days Adults : acyclovir, 800mg five times a day for 7 days Immunocompromised patient : foscarnet, 40 mg/kg each 8 hours until healed
therapy Antipyretics Usually used ibuprofen, 200-400mg, or acetaminophen 500 mg third daily Antihistamin oral Usually used diphenhydramine, 25-50 mg third daily
PREVENTION
Active immunization: give varicella vaccine Passive immunization: give zoster imunnoglobulin
PROGNOSIS
Healthy children with varicella have excellent prognoses Children with immunocompromised states are at risk for severe disease and death
COMPLICATIONS
Secondary bacterial infections CNS complications Pneumonia
SUMMARY
Varicella(chickenpox) is a highly contagious disease of childhood and occasionaly adulthood, caused by a primary infection with a complex herpes group DNA virus, the varicella-zoster virus. The rash progress rapidly from erythematous macules to papules, vesicles, pustules, and crusts.
summary
Therapy with antipyretics, antihistamines, and antiviral agents, that usually used is acyclovir. Commonly healthy children with varicella have excellent prognoses