title: Management of chickenpox with frozen mother's milk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  If a mother has contracted chickenpox, the antibodies in her milk confer immunity against chickenpox to her breastfed babies. This passive immunization may avoid or spare the breastfed babies' symptoms of chickenpox. It is hypothesized that frozen breast milk may shorten chickenpox duration because specific antibodies against varicella zoster have been detected in human milk and they are resistant to digestion and are stable in frozen milk.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical outcomes of chickenpox in a 9-year-old boy and his father on frozen breast milk are reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised a varicella-vaccine-refusing family attending a private office of pediatrics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The boy presented with a crusted varicella rash. The medical history revealed premature cessation of the typical varicella rash on day 3. It was coincidental with a supply of frozen human milk by his mother. Next, the father (41 years old) of this patient contracted chickenpox: he was on frozen breast milk from day 2, and no new pox emerged thereafter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rash spread and numbered 50 to 150 lesions on day 2. Instead, the typical rash was expected to appear in three successive crops of lesions throughout the first week. The disease usually numbers approximately 250-500 lesions in unvaccinated healthy persons. Frozen breast milk may shorten chickenpox duration.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Hospital de Santa Cruz y San Pablo, Barcelona, Spain. drsverd@terra.es
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Verd
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: López
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies; D001688:Biological Products / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D002648:Child; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage / Q000379:methods; D005076:Exanthema / Q000517:prevention & control; D005615:Freezing; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D009035:Mothers; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D001688:Biological Products; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine