U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Varicella zoster infection

MedGen UID:
668886
•Concept ID:
C0586989
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonym: Varicella Zoster Virus Infection
SNOMED CT: Varicella-zoster virus infection (309465005)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0005608

Definition

A highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. Clinically, it may be manifested as shingles or chicken pox. [from NCI]

Professional guidelines

PubMed

No. 274-Management of Varicella Infection (Chickenpox) in Pregnancy.
Shrim A, Koren G, Yudin MH, Farine D
J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2018 Aug;40(8):e652-e657. doi: 10.1016/j.jogc.2018.05.034. PMID: 30103889
Viral laryngitis: a mimic and a monster - range, presentation, management.
Dominguez LM, Simpson CB
Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2015 Dec;23(6):454-8. doi: 10.1097/MOO.0000000000000203. PMID: 26397458
Management of varicella infection (chickenpox) in pregnancy.
Shrim A, Koren G, Yudin MH, Farine D; MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE COMMITTEE
J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2012 Mar;34(3):287-292. doi: 10.1016/S1701-2163(16)35190-8. PMID: 22385673

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Varicella in the 21st Century.
Obi OA
Neoreviews 2024 May 1;25(5):e274-e281. doi: 10.1542/neo.25-5-e274. PMID: 38688890
Increase in invasive group A streptococcal (Streptococcus pyogenes) infections (iGAS) in young children in the Netherlands, 2022.
de Gier B, Marchal N, de Beer-Schuurman I, Te Wierik M, Hooiveld M; ISIS-AR Study Group; GAS Study group, de Melker HE, van Sorge NM; Members of the GAS study group; Members of the ISIS-AR study group
Euro Surveill 2023 Jan;28(1) doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.1.2200941. PMID: 36695447Free PMC Article
Obstetric infections.
Lapinsky SE
Crit Care Clin 2013 Jul;29(3):509-20. Epub 2013 Apr 30 doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2013.03.006. PMID: 23830651
Inflammatory pseudotumour of the pancreas in a child.
Slavotinek JP, Bourne AJ, Sage MR, Freeman JK
Pediatr Radiol 2000 Nov;30(11):801-3. doi: 10.1007/s002470000331. PMID: 11100500
Herpes zoster in childhood: case report and review of the literature.
Smith CG, Glaser DA
Pediatr Dermatol 1996 May-Jun;13(3):226-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.1996.tb01208.x. PMID: 8806124

Diagnosis

Varicella in the 21st Century.
Obi OA
Neoreviews 2024 May 1;25(5):e274-e281. doi: 10.1542/neo.25-5-e274. PMID: 38688890
Increase in invasive group A streptococcal (Streptococcus pyogenes) infections (iGAS) in young children in the Netherlands, 2022.
de Gier B, Marchal N, de Beer-Schuurman I, Te Wierik M, Hooiveld M; ISIS-AR Study Group; GAS Study group, de Melker HE, van Sorge NM; Members of the GAS study group; Members of the ISIS-AR study group
Euro Surveill 2023 Jan;28(1) doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.1.2200941. PMID: 36695447Free PMC Article
Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysms in Children-A Case Series.
Sreevathsa P, Ram D, Munuswamy H, Satyavathi DS, Sai Chandran BV
World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2020 Jul;11(4):NP107-NP109. Epub 2018 Jan 15 doi: 10.1177/2150135117743212. PMID: 29334827
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus with Orbital Apex Syndrome-Difference in Outcomes and Literature Review.
Lim JJ, Ong YM, Wan Zalina MZ, Choo MM
Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2018;26(2):187-193. Epub 2017 Jun 16 doi: 10.1080/09273948.2017.1327604. PMID: 28622058
Vascular Complications of Varicella: Description of 4 Cases and a Review of Literature.
Driesen Y, Verweij M, De Maeseneer M, De Dooy J, Wojciechowski M, Van Den Akker M
Pediatr Infect Dis J 2015 Nov;34(11):1256-9. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000000855. PMID: 26226447

Therapy

Varicella in the 21st Century.
Obi OA
Neoreviews 2024 May 1;25(5):e274-e281. doi: 10.1542/neo.25-5-e274. PMID: 38688890
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus with Orbital Apex Syndrome-Difference in Outcomes and Literature Review.
Lim JJ, Ong YM, Wan Zalina MZ, Choo MM
Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2018;26(2):187-193. Epub 2017 Jun 16 doi: 10.1080/09273948.2017.1327604. PMID: 28622058
Obstetric infections.
Lapinsky SE
Crit Care Clin 2013 Jul;29(3):509-20. Epub 2013 Apr 30 doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2013.03.006. PMID: 23830651
Primary varicella-zoster-induced rhabdomyolysis.
Will MJ, Hecker RB, Wathen PI
South Med J 1996 Sep;89(9):915-20. doi: 10.1097/00007611-199609000-00015. PMID: 8790319
Chickenpox-associated acute retinal necrosis syndrome.
Culbertson WW, Brod RD, Flynn HW Jr, Taylor BC, Brod BA, Lightman DA, Gordon G
Ophthalmology 1991 Nov;98(11):1641-5; discussion 145-6. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(91)32061-x. PMID: 1666176

Prognosis

Invasive group A streptococcal infections in children and adolescents in Denmark during 2022-23 compared with 2016-17 to 2021-22: a nationwide, multicentre, population-based cohort study.
Nygaard U, Hartling UB, Munkstrup C, Nielsen AB, Dungu KHS, Schmidt LS, Glenthøj J, Matthesen AT, Rytter MJH, Holm M
Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2024 Feb;8(2):112-121. Epub 2023 Dec 13 doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(23)00295-X. PMID: 38103567
Electrical and transcranial magnetic stimulation of the facial nerve: diagnostic relevance in acute isolated facial nerve palsy.
Happe S, Bunten S
Eur Neurol 2012;68(5):304-9. Epub 2012 Oct 9 doi: 10.1159/000341624. PMID: 23051862
Acute pancreatitis associated with varicella infection in an immunocompetent child.
Franco J, Fernandes R, Oliveira M, Alves AD, Braga M, Soares I, Calhau P
J Paediatr Child Health 2009 Sep;45(9):547-8. Epub 2009 Aug 21 doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2009.01557.x. PMID: 19702601
Rituximab long-term maintenance therapy after autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Neumann F, Harmsen S, Martin S, Kronenwett R, Kondakci M, Aivado M, Germing U, Haas R, Kobbe G
Ann Hematol 2006 Aug;85(8):530-4. Epub 2006 Apr 26 doi: 10.1007/s00277-006-0113-5. PMID: 16639571
Chickenpox-associated acute retinal necrosis syndrome.
Culbertson WW, Brod RD, Flynn HW Jr, Taylor BC, Brod BA, Lightman DA, Gordon G
Ophthalmology 1991 Nov;98(11):1641-5; discussion 145-6. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(91)32061-x. PMID: 1666176

Clinical prediction guides

Increase in invasive group A streptococcal (Streptococcus pyogenes) infections (iGAS) in young children in the Netherlands, 2022.
de Gier B, Marchal N, de Beer-Schuurman I, Te Wierik M, Hooiveld M; ISIS-AR Study Group; GAS Study group, de Melker HE, van Sorge NM; Members of the GAS study group; Members of the ISIS-AR study group
Euro Surveill 2023 Jan;28(1) doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.1.2200941. PMID: 36695447Free PMC Article
Efficacy of Pulsed Radiofrequency or Short-Term Spinal Cord Stimulation for Acute/Subacute Zoster-Related Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Trial.
Wan CF, Song T
Pain Physician 2021 May;24(3):215-222. PMID: 33988940
Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a review of therapeutic options.
Argoff CE, Katz N, Backonja M
J Pain Symptom Manage 2004 Oct;28(4):396-411. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2004.01.014. PMID: 15471658
Progressive outer retinal necrosis in immunocompetent patients treated initially for optic neuropathy with systemic corticosteroids.
Benz MS, Glaser JS, Davis JL
Am J Ophthalmol 2003 Apr;135(4):551-3. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(02)01978-5. PMID: 12654381
A method for determining the cut-off value of a varicella-zoster virus IgG enzyme immunoassay for immune status.
Robertson PW, Bell SM, Ferson MJ
J Virol Methods 1989 Oct;26(1):115-8. doi: 10.1016/0166-0934(89)90079-7. PMID: 2556421

Recent systematic reviews

Herpes zoster preceding neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: casual or causal relationship? A systematic literature review.
Turco EC, Curti E, Pisani F, Granella F
J Neurovirol 2022 Apr;28(2):201-207. Epub 2022 Apr 24 doi: 10.1007/s13365-022-01065-4. PMID: 35462584

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Genetic Testing Registry

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Related information

    • GTR
      Related information in GTR
    • GTR(Clinical)
      Clinical tests in GTR
    • PMC Articles
      Related information in PubMed Central Links
    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...