[Facial palsy and central nervous system infection with varicella virus following adult chickenpox].
BACKGROUND
VZV virus-related peripheral neuropathies usually occur after shingles in adults and more rarely after chickenpox in childhood.


METHODS
A 54-year-old patient presented with a right VIIth nerve palsy following a chickenpox rash and recovered after antiviral treatment. CSF analysis revealed lymphocytic meningitis and the virus was identified by PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
Although previous chickenpox was not found in the patient's past history, the probability of reinfection is likely. The virus can be assumed to affect the nervous system directly; the axonal or demyelinating mechanism of the neuropathy may be discussed.
Nouh
A
A
Service de Neurologie, Centre Gui de Chauliac, Hôpital Saint Eloi, CHU, Montpellier.
Landais
A
A
Segondy
M
M
Blard
J M
JM
Pagès
M
M
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir