Viremia Caused by Varicella-Zoster Virus: Association with Malignant Progressive Varicella

Abstract

Three groups of patients were evaluated to determine the relation between viremia caused by varicella-zoster virus and the type of varicella course the patient had. The groups were: (1) children with varicella who had no known underlying disease, who were not receiving immunosuppressive therapy, and who had a typical course of varicella (“normal” children); (2) children who were considered to be at risk of developing progressive varicella because of preexisting disease or because they were receiving immunosuppressive therapy and who had a typical course of varicella; and (3) patients who were at risk of developing progressive varicella and who had a progressive varicella course. Viremia in association with exanthem occurred in patients who had a progressive varicella course, but it was not observed, either during incubation or exanthem, in normal children or in patients at risk of progressive infection who had a typical varicella course. The viremia was cell-associated in three patients.