congenital varicella syndrome

Last reviewed 01/2018

Foetal infection with varicella was first described in 1947. The varicella syndrome is the result of varicella zoster infection early in pregnancy.

• characteristic features of fetal varicella syndrome include segmental areas of skin loss or scarring; limb hypoplasia and/or paresis; reduced birth weight
• less common features include microcephaly, neurological anomalies (e.g. hypotonia) and ophthalmological abnormalities that may not be evident at birth.

Foetal varicella syndrome is believed result from viral reactivation in utero rather than the initial fetal infection, with subsequent replication in fetal ganglia, neurones and innervated tissues.

Reference:

1. BMJ (1993), 306, 1079
2. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 2005; 43(12):94-5.