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Chickenpox (Varicella, Herpes Zoster), Pediatric

Camille Sabella, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious herpesvirus. Primary infection with the virus results in varicella (chickenpox), whereas reactivation from latency results in herp...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Chickenpox

    • Fever, malaise; decreased appetite common prior to onset of rash

    • Fever low grade to moderate and persists after rash appears

    • Pruritic rash begins on scalp, face, or trunk.

    • New ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Isolation of hospitalized patients with chickenpox:

    • Contact and airborne precautions of the index case for the duration of vesicular eruption and all vesicles crusted (usually...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

For normal healthy individuals, follow-up is not necessary. 

PROGNOSIS

  • For most children, this childhood exanthema is a benign disease that lasts ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. Varicella-zoster virus infections. In: Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, et al, eds. Red Book®: 2015 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases...

CODES

ICD9

  • 052.9 Varicella without mention of complication

  • 053.9 Herpes zoster without mention of complication

  • 052.8 Chickenpox with unspecified complication

  • 052.9 Varicella without mention of complicatio...

FAQ

  • Q: What do you do for a patient on corticosteroids who has not had VZV and is exposed to VZV?

  • A: Patients receiving ≥2 mg/kg/24 h or ≥20 mg/24 h of prednisone or its equivalent cannot be immunized ...

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