Fatal case of chickenpox in an adult: a case report.

Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is a double stranded DNA virus of a a-herpes virus family which also include herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2.1 VZV causes chicken pox (varicella) during primary infection, following which the virus establishes the latency in cells of the dorsal root ganglia. Reactivation of latent virus causes shingles (herpes zoster), a disease predominantly occurring in elderly or immunocompromised patients. National incidence rate of chicken pox in Pakistan is unknown. In United States, before the availability of varicella vaccine, varicella disease was responsible for an estimated 4 million cases, 11,000 hospitalizations, and 100 deaths each year. 2 Approximately 90% of cases occur in children and rarely in adults. Fifty five percent of varicella-associated deaths occurred among persons aged greater than or equal to 20 years. 3 We report a fatal case of primary varicella in an immunocompetent adult with severe complications resulting in death. The case highlights the importance of vaccination in children as well as high risk adult population in our country.