Varicella pneumonia is the most common complication of adult varicella. Symptoms may be severe and the mortality rate high in patients who are immunodeficient or pregnant. Symptoms may be mild and progression more favorable in adults previously in good health. We report two cases of varicella infection complicated by severe pulmonary involvement in adult patients who were previously healthy.
Case 1 was a 36-year-old male who 6 days after developing varicella was clinically observed to have dyspnea and hemopytsis. He died of acute respiratory failure on the following day. Case 2 was a 28-year-old male whose respiratory symptoms started the third day after developing varicella. These symptoms were relieved by treatment with acyclovir and gammaglobulin.
Careful observation is and an early treatment of varicella should be undertaken not only for patients with suppressed cellular immunity, but also for healthy adults, to prevent severe complications.