Varicella-zoster virus acquired at 4 months of age reactivates at 24 months and causes encephalitis.
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation in the brain caused encephalitis in a 2-year-old immunocompetent child who had chickenpox 20 months before. Radiologic findings were consistent with large to medium-vessel-vasculitis. VZV-DNA was detected in cerebrospinal fluid. Early acquisition of VZV may predispose to major neurologic complications that can occur years after the primary infection.
Chiappini
Elena
E
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Italy.
Calabri
Giuseppe
G
Galli
Luisa
L
Salvi
Giuseppe
G
de Martino
Maurizio
M
D000367:Age Factors; D020804:Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014775:Virus Activation