Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Yuzuncu Yil
University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkiye | Department of Pediatrics, Yuzuncu Yıl University
Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkiye
Note: [] Correspondence: Ali Bay, MD, Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of
Medicine, Department of Pediatric Hematology, Van, Turkiye. Tel.: +90 432 215
04 70; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Varicella remains a dangerous viral pathogen for pediatric cancer
patients. The incidence of primary varicella infection in Eastern of Turkiye is
still high because of low vaccination rate. Medical records of 27 pediatric
patients with hematological malignancies that developed varicella/herpes zoster
were retrospectively reviewed. All were treated at a single medical center in
Eastern Turkiye between 1997 and 2006. Varicella (n=22) or
herpes zoster (n=5) were diagnosed in 27 cases, of whom 14
had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), five had acute myeloblastic leukemia
(AML), and eight had non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The mean age of the children
was 5.7 ± 3.2 years. None of these children had evidence
of disseminated disease. The mean total leukocyte count was 2600
± 1500/mm^{3} in ALL group, 2300
± 1800/mm^{3} in AML group, and 3100
± 1700/mm^{3} in NHL group. While
intravenous acyclovir was administered to 21 patients, remaining six patients
were received oral acyclovir. Fever was reduced in mean 5.6 ± 2.1,
5.2±1.7 and 4.4 ±
1.8 days in ALL, AML, and NHL groups, respectively. None of the 27 children
worsened or developed features of visceral dissemination. Outcome of the
patients were not different in terms of oral and intravenous acyclovir use.
These results suggest that in our institution varicella is not associated with
a high incidence of mortality in cancer patients. Early administration of
acyclovir can prevent the visceral dissemination of varicella-zoster virus.
Prednisolone usage during the incubation period of varicella did not result in
increased severe varicella infection.
