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Smallpox (Variola Virus), Pediatric

Eimear Kitt, MB, BCh, BAO (NUI) and Hamid Bassiri, MD, PhD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Smallpox is a life-threatening, acute, eruptive, contagious disease caused by variola virus.

  • The disease is characterized by a febrile prodrome followed by the development of rash.

  • Ras...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Ordinary smallpox

    • Incubation period lasts 7 to 17 days, followed by a 1- to 4-day febrile prodrome characterized by high fever, headache, back pain, chills, abdominal pain, and emesis.

    • ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Suspected cases of smallpox require notification of state and local authorities, in addition to the CDC.

  • For patients with acute, generalized vesicular or pustular rash, insti...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

  • The mortality rate for variola minor was <1%.

  • Historically, the overall mortality rate for variola major was 30% but was close to 100% for the flat and hemorrhagic forms of the...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Besser JM, Crouch NA, Sullivan M. Laboratory diagnosis to differentiate smallpox, vaccinia, and other vesicular/pustular illnesses. J Lab Clin Med.  2003;142(4):246–251. [View ...

CODES

ICD9

  • 050.9 Smallpox, unspecified

  • 050.0 Variola major

  • 050.2 Modified smallpox

ICD10

B03 Smallpox 

SNOMED

  • 67924001 Smallpox (disorder)

  • 47452006 Variola major (disorder)

  • 51423006 Modified smallpox (disorder...

FAQ

  • Q: What are my first steps in management should I suspect smallpox in a patient?

  • A: If, after reviewing the CDC protocol for evaluation of suspected smallpox and suspicion remains, the patients sho...

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