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  • Title: [Varicella pneumonia in the adult. A review of 25 cases].
    Author: Alemán Llansó C, García Quintana AM, Alegre Martín J, Recio Iglesias J, Falcó Ferrer V, Fernández de Sevilla Ribosa T.
    Journal: Rev Clin Esp; 1997 Oct; 197(10):690-2. PubMed ID: 9424667.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical, therapeutic, and evolutive features in 25 patients with the diagnosis of varicella pneumonia (VP) in the last 15 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The diagnosis was established by clinical and radiologic criteria in the course of varicella infection. The antecedents of smoking habit, pregnancy, and underlying disease were evaluated. Hypoxemia was defined as a pO2 < or = 65 mmHg with a FiO2 of 0.21. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (16 males and 9 women; mean age 31.5 years, range: 24-43 years) were included in the study. Ninety-two percent of patients were smokers of more than 20 cigarettes a day; five met criteria of simple chronic bronchitis, 3 were known carriers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and one had a chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus. In 16 patients (64%) there were no underlying diseases and none of the female patients was pregnant. Respiratory symptoms began from the first and seventh day after the skin rash, and the most common symptoms were cough (76%), dyspnea (48%), and chest pain (44%). In 22 patients an arterial gas determination was obtained and hypoxemia was documented in 8 patients (32%). Hypoxemia was greater and statistically significant in patients with underlying diseases (p < 0.01). Chest X-ray revealed an interstitial pattern predominantly at both bases. Intravenous acyclovir therapy was started in 19 patients (76%) with severe respiratory symptoms and/or underlying disease. Three patients (12%) were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for mechanical ventilation. All patients had a favourable clinical course. CONCLUSIONS: Adult patients with symptoms of VP had a favourable clinical course with intravenous acyclovir, and the presence of hypoxemia was more commonly observed when underlying diseases were also present.
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