[Varicella zoster pneumonia].
Varicella (chickenpox) is a common contagious infection of childhood, with fewer than 2% of the cases occurring in adults. Since the early 1980s the incidence of chickenpox in adults has been increasing and only 7% of them are seronegative for Varicella zoster antibodies. Pneumonia, although rare, is the most common and serious complication of chickenpox infection in adults. The authors present an illustrative case of varicella pneumonia in an immunocompetent adult with smoking habits and make a brief thematic review.
Ferreira Santos
Carla
C
Interna do Complementar de Medicina Interna, Serviço Medicina Interna 2, Hospital de São Teotónio, EPE, Viseu, Portugal. cfsantos@sapo.pt
Gomes
Ana
A
Garrido
António
A
Albuquerque
Ana
A
Melo
Eduardo
E
Barros
Inês
I
Marques
António
A
Saraiva
José Pedro
JP
D000328:Adult; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*