Chickenpox and streptococcal infection: a clinical example of the combined course of chickenpox and scarlet fever

Abstract

Chicken pox today is an important medical and social problem because with this disease it is possible to develop complications due to both the direct action of the virus and the addition of a secondary bacterial infection. Forms of chickenpox complicated by a bacterial infection were recorded in 56 (16.0%) of all treated patients in the Zaporozhye region. Among the complications, pyoderma was more common in 24 children (42.8%), pneumonia was recorded in 13 (23.2%), lymphadenitis in 5 (8.9%), acute tonsillitis in 4 (7.1%), average purulent otitis media in 3 (5.4%), mucopurulent conjunctivitis, blepharitis in 3 (5.4%), phlegmon in 2 (3.6%). Two children (3.6%) reported a combined course of chickenpox and scarlet fever.

Purpose — to demonstrate, with the example of a clinical case of the course of super0infection — chickenpox and scarlet fever in a child, to show the features of this course and the difficulties of diagnosis.

Сlinical case. Clinical and laboratory surveillance of a 110year0old child was received, which was treated in a hospital for atypical course of chickenpox for 20 days. A clinical case of the atypical course of chickenpox in a child is described, which was regarded as superinfection with aggressive bacterial flora, which demonstrates the possibility of developing a generalized form of streptococcal infection (scarlet fever) as superinfection in chickenpox, indicates the need for a kind of diagnosis of chickenpox, the importance of the doctor's alertness regarding the attachment of a bacterial infection in such a case and the feasibility of vaccinating against chickenpox for each child.

The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of these Institutes. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies.