Disseminated Varicella-Zoster Virus Presenting With Pneumonitis and Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in an Immunocompetent Patient

Division

South Atlantic

Hospital

Trident Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

8-14-2024

Keywords

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ards), disseminated varicella, varicella-zoster, visceral varicella zoster, vzv

Disciplines

Internal Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences | Respiratory Tract Diseases | Virus Diseases

Abstract

Varicella pneumonitis is typically seen in individuals with risk factors such as male gender, smoking history, and immunocompromised state and is often associated with disseminated infection, whereas primary varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection usually involves a diffuse vesicular rash and rarely progresses to viral pneumonia. VZV pneumonitis accompanied by disseminated VZV infection is associated with a high mortality rate and may progress to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in severe cases. In addition to cutaneous lesions, patients typically develop dyspnea, cough, tachypnea, chest pain, fever, and hemoptysis. Here, we present a rare case of disseminated VZV infection in an immunocompetent patient with pneumonitis and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

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