Pulmonary Involvement during Varicella in a Patient with Sickle Cell Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment
Daouda Thioub *
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Ndeye Amy Sarr
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Christine Amengo Kogwapa
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Khardiata Diallo Mbaye
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Ndeye Aïssatou Lakhe
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Aboubakar Sidikh Badiane
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Daye Ka
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Ndeye Maguette Fall
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Viviane Marie Pierre Cisse
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
Moussa Seydi
Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Fann National University Hospital (CHNU), Dakar, Senegal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Pulmonary involvement during chickenpox is one of the most serious complications. However, it can be difficult to distinguish between varicella pneumonia, bacterial superinfection and an acute chest syndrome. We report a case of varicella complicated by pneumonia in a young adult with sickle cell disease.
Observation: It was a 24-year-old woman with sickle cell disease. Examination on admission revealed generalized skin lesions of varying ages, associated with scratching lesions. On day 3 of hospitalization, she presented an acute respiratory distress associated with fever (40°C). Thoracic CT angiography revealed diffuse pulmonary nodules and micronodules in both lung fields. Blood culture isolated Staphylococcus spp. The patient was put on oxygen therapy combined with antiviral treatment and antibiotic therapy. The course was marked by symptoms regression, with disappearance of respiratory distress on day 2 and apyrexia on day 3 of treatment. The follow-up chest CT scan carried out at month 4, came back normal.
Conclusion: Although pneumonia is one of the most common complications of varicella, it can be difficult to diagnose in patients with sickle cell disease, considering the frequency of pulmonary involvement of various etiologies
Keywords: Chickenpox, sickle cell disease, infection, eruptive fever, varicella