A 32-year-old man from Vinh Long was admitted to Can Tho General Hospital presenting with severe chickenpox complications, including widespread blisters, many purulent, mouth ulcers, poor eating, and diarrhea. His condition rapidly deteriorated within 10 hours of admission, leading to acute respiratory failure unresponsive to oxygen therapy. He was promptly transferred to the Intensive Care and Anti-Poison Department.

Doctors diagnosed him with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) pneumonia, a severe complication of chickenpox, along with blood concentration, a rapid heart rate, and low blood pressure.

Doctors with the patient. Photo: Kim Dieu

Doctors immediately initiated aggressive treatment, including intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation, antiviral medication, continuous hemodialysis, and lung recruitment to improve blood oxygenation. He also received blood products to correct coagulation disorders. After almost one month of intensive care, the patient's condition gradually improved. He was extubated on the 25th day of treatment and is currently continuing his recovery.

Chickenpox is an acute infectious disease caused by the Varicella zoster virus (VZV), a member of the Herpeviridae family. This highly contagious illness can cause outbreaks, primarily spreading through respiratory droplets or direct contact with the characteristic skin blisters.

The infection rate can reach 90% among non-immune individuals. While often presenting in school-age children with fever and a vesicular rash and typically following a benign course, chickenpox can sometimes lead to severe complications, including fatalities.

Recently, there has been an increasing trend of severe chickenpox cases in adults. The disease primarily affects immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and infants, though even healthy adults can develop severe forms. When the illness progresses severely, it can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, myocarditis, meningoencephalitis, and myelitis.

Chickenpox-related pneumonia is a common complication, especially in immunocompromised patients and pregnant women during the last 6 months of pregnancy. Smokers also face a higher risk of developing chickenpox pneumonia, which often appears on the 3rd to 5th day of the illness and can result in respiratory failure and hemoptysis.

Fortunately, chickenpox can be effectively prevented through vaccination.

An Binh