title: Cardiac-related varicella mortality in childhood: a literature review with clinical experience.
abstract: Among unvaccinated populations, primary varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection results in a minor childhood illness for the majority of individuals. Mortality is rare, and fatalities associated with cardiac complications are exceptional. In a population where routine VZV vaccination is not practised, we report a death in a previously healthy child secondary to VZV myocarditis. A literature review of cardiac-related VZV mortality in childhood is included. This identified a further 13 cases where death was associated with or attributable to, direct involvement of the myocardium or conducting system with what is frequently considered a benign childhood illness.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Paediatrics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. michael_ogrady2001@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.forename: Edina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moylett
mesh_terms: D006332:Cardiomegaly; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000401:mortality*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000821:virology*; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology