Herpes Zoster Blamed For Chickenpox Outbreak In HIV(+) Children.

2001 MAR 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) --

by Michael Greer, staff medical writer -- An active case of herpes zoster in a child attending a summer camp for children with HIV was responsible for an outbreak of chickenpox.

Protective measures were in place, but incomplete and inaccurate information from parents, and unvaccinated staff members nullified the efforts, said A.G. Winquist and colleagues at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Winquist et al. interviewed parents, children and staff present at the 1997 summer camp, when a third of the varicella-susceptible children contracted the illness ("Varicella outbreak at a summer camp for human immunodeficiency virus-infected children," Pediatrics, 2001;107(1):67-72).

They found that the most likely source for the outbreak was a child with an active herpes zoster infection, characterized by a large, swollen rash, and caused by the same virus responsible for chickenpox.

"Varicella can result in severe, persistent, or recurrent disease in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children," warned Winquist et al.

Although the camp had taken steps to protect children and staff against the occurrence and transmission of varicella, these preventive measures were hampered by parents who frequently gave incomplete or inaccurate information to medical staff, the researchers said.