title: Primary disseminated varicella presenting as an acute abdomen.
abstract: We report a patient admitted with acute abdominal pain initially thought to be due to pancreatitis of unclear etiology. Later during his hospitalization he was diagnosed with primary varicella infection. The association between varicella and systemic multiorgan disease needs to be recognized in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. A prompt diagnosis prevents delay in the treatment of varicella, as well as in monitoring for and preventing complications of disseminated infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haycox
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir