Susceptibility to varicella zoster of children with cystic fibrosis.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection can result in significant morbidity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and the risk of severe pulmonary complications rises with age [1]. This is a greater concern in those receiving systemic corticosteroids, which in the case of CF is most often given for acute allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Severe complications such as pneumonitis, secondary bacterial infections, and liver failure may occur despite prompt treatment with antiviral agents. The seroprevalence of VZV antibodies in CF children is unknown, although in the general population N80% of children over 6 years of age have evidence of immunity [2]. We aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of VZV antibodies in children attending our