title: Varicella-Zoster Virus Infections in Pediatric Malignancy Patients: A Seven-Year Analysis.
abstract: Primary varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection is a benign self-limited disease. In this study, we review our experience in focusing on the outcome and treatment of VZV infection in pediatric malignancy patients. During the study period, a total of 41 patients with pediatric malignancy had been hospitalized with the diagnosis of VZV infection. All the patients were treated with intravenous acyclovir for a median of 7 days (ranging from 5 to 21 days). The calculated attributable delay of chemotherapy due to VZV infections was 8 days (ranging from 2 to 60 days). VZV-related complications were observed in 3 of 41 patients (7%) who suffered from acute respiratory distress syndrome, and one of them with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis died due to respiratory failure despite acyclovir and broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment plus supportive treatment. VZV infections are still important contagious diseases in pediatric cancer patients, because they cause not only significant mortality but also a delay in chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Behçet Uz Children Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, İzmir, Turkey, Phone: +90 232 489 56 56, E-mail: mineduzgol@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Düzgöl
authors.forename: Gülcihan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Özek
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: Yeşim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oymak
authors.forename: Ahu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Bengü
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirağ
authors.forename: Tuba Hilkay
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Karapınar
authors.forename: Yılmaz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ay
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vergin
authors.forename: İlker
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Devrim
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies