Onset of juvenile dermatomyositis following varicella infection in a 12-month-old child: a case report

INTRODUCTION Infections can act as a trigger for juvenile dermatomyositis, with a predominance of respiratory tract infections reported previously. We present the first case of juvenile dermatomyositis following varicella infection to be described in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION A 15-month-old Caucasian girl was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis 3 months after a varicella infection. The diagnosis was challenging due to her young age, but was supported by magnetic resonance imaging, and confirmed following a later appearance of the characteristic skin rash. CONCLUSION Varicella infection may be a trigger for juvenile dermatomyositis. Further understanding of disease triggers is required.