Nishihara Y, Hase R. A case of maternal varicella: Expected role of primary care physicians in confirming immune status for varicella in women at childbearing age.
J Gen Fam Med 2020;
21:15-17. [PMID:
32161696 PMCID:
PMC7060286 DOI:
10.1002/jgf2.291]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
At 19-week gestation, a 32-year-old Japanese woman presented with a 3-day history of fever and vesicular rashes on the skin and was diagnosed with varicella, which resolved after antiviral therapy. In the primary clinic, her immunity to rubella and measles, but not to varicella, was confirmed at preconception counseling. Maternal varicella infection can cause congenital varicella syndrome characterized by congenital malformations and neurological deficits. This case recommends that all women of childbearing age should be assessed for immunity to varicella before pregnancy and that primary care physicians should take initiatives for preventing maternal varicella.
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