Keywords
Varicella; Neurological Complications
Abstract
Varicella is a high infectious disease with a worldwide distribution. According to a WHO position paper, global annual disease burden of Varicella is estimated to be 140 million cases [1]. Even if it is often considered a harmless disease, it may have a serious course and may require hospitalization. Among complications, neurological ones have been reported in previous studies. They may be caused by a primary infection or may be associated with a virus reactivation. Generally, children present with neurological complications associated to a primary infection. Those associated with recurrences are often due to the direct effect of viral replication in the central nervous system. Varicella zoster virus reaches the nervous system either through the bloodstream or by direct spread from sensory ganglia where it remains latent. The neurological consequences of Varicella reactivation are more frequent detached among elderly individuals and immunodeficient patients. Neurological involvement in immunocompetent children following Varicella reactivation is exceptionally rare. Varicella-zoster virus can infect a wide variety of cells in the central and peripheral nervous system, including neurons, oligodendrocytes, meningeal cells, ependymal cells, and cells of the blood vessel wall. The wide range of susceptible cells explains the diversity of the clinical and pathologic nervous system manifestations of VZV. The spectrum of VZV infection can range from mild symptomatic infection to meningoencephalitis.
Citation
Bozzola M and Bozzola E. Neurological complications in Varicella. SM J Neurol Disord Stroke. 2015; 1(1): 1003.