Chickenpox physical examination
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Michael Maddaleni, B.S.
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Overview
- The diagnosis of varicella is primarily clinical. In a non-immunized individual with typical prodromal symptoms associated with the appropriate appearing rash occurring in "crops", no further investigation would normally be undertaken.
- If further investigation is undertaken, confirmation of the diagnosis can be sought through either examination of the fluid within the vesicles, or by testing blood for evidence of an acute immunologic reposnse. Vesicle fluid can be examined with a Tsanck smear, or better with examination for direct fluorescent antibody. The fluid can also be "cultured", whereby attempts are made to grow the virus from a fluid sample. Blood tests can be used to identify a response to acute infection (IgM) or previous infection and subsequent immunity (IgE).[1]
- Prenatal diagnosis of foetal varicella infection can be performed using ultrasound, though a delay of 5 weeks following primary maternal infection is advised. A PCR (DNA) test of the mother's amniotic fluid can also be performed, though the risk of spontaneous abortion due to the amniocentesis procedure is higher than the risk of the baby developing foetal varicella syndrome.
Physical Examination
Appearance of the Patient
Chickenpox in Unvaccinated People
- The rash is generalized and pruritic (itchy). It progresses rapidly from macules to papules to vesicular lesions before crusting. The rash usually appears first on the head, chest, and back then spreads to the rest of the body. The lesions are usually most concentrated on the chest and back.
- In healthy children, varicella is generally mild, with an itchy rash, malaise, and temperature up to 102°F for 2 to 3 days. Adults are at risk for more severe disease and have a higher incidence of complications. Recovery from primary varicella infection usually provides immunity for life. In otherwise healthy people, a second occurrence of varicella is uncommon and usually occurs in people who are immunocompromised. As with other viral infections, re-exposure to natural (wild-type) varicella may lead to re-infection that boosts antibody] titers without causing illness or detectable viremia.
Chickenpox in Vaccinated People
- Chickenpox in people who are vaccinated is referred to as breakthrough varicella. Breakthrough varicella is infection with wild-type VZV occurring in a vaccinated person more than 42 days after varicella vaccination. Breakthrough varicella is usually mild. Patients typically are afebrile or have low fever and develop fewer than 50 skin lesions. They usually have a shorter illness compared to unvaccinated people who get varicella. The rash is more likely to be predominantly maculopapular rather than vesicular. However, 25%-30% of persons vaccinated with 1 dose with breakthrough varicella have clinical features typical of varicella in unvaccinated people.
- Since the clinical features of breakthrough varicella are often mild, it can be difficult to make a diagnosis on clinical presentation alone. Laboratory testing is increasingly important for confirming varicella and appropriately managing cases and their contacts. There is limited information about breakthrough varicella in persons who have received two doses of varicella vaccine, though it appears to occur less frequently among people vaccinated with two doses of varicella vaccine compared to persons who have received a single dose of varicella vaccine.
Gallery
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Chickenpox lesions on the skin of this patient's left breast and arm on day 6 of the illness. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Chickenpox lesions on the skin of this patient's back and buttocks at day 6 of the illness. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Chickenpox lesions on the skin of this patient's breasts, arms, and torso at day 6 of the illness. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Patient with cervical skin lesions caused by chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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4-month old infant with skin lesions on his brow ridge due to chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Patient had presented with chickenpox demonstrating the typical rash on day eight. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Patient developed palatal mucosal lesions due to chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Vaccine recipient developed a secondary herpes infection adjacent to the vaccination site. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Pustulovesicular rash represents a generalized herpes outbreak due to the Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) pathogen. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Case of chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Case of chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Case of chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Chickenpox lesions on a patient’s back, which were displaying the characteristic “cropping” distribution, or manifesting themselves in clusters. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Posterior view of a hospitalized man's neck, back and shoulders, who’d been assigned a bed in a smallpox ward, due to an initially misdiagnosed illness, which turned out to be chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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View of a patient’s thighs and upper legs, who’d been diagnosed with chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Pathologic changes seen on the surface of the right unilateral side of this elderly male patient’s tongue and chin, represent a herpes outbreak due to the Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) pathogen. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Viewed from above, this image depicts a smallpox scab (left), and chickenpox scab (right) as a demonstration in comparative morphology. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Close-up of a maculopapular rash that was diagnosed as a crop of chickenpox lesions. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Lateral view of a 4 month-old infant’s face with a single varicella-zoster, otherwise known as chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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This anteroposterior (AP) radiograph revealed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates throughout the entirety of each lung field in the case of a child with leukemia, as well as chickenpox pneumonia. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Image depicts three mounted chickenpox scabs seen from the side revealing the superficiality of these scabs when morphologically compared to a smallpox scab. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Volar surface of a patient’s left forearm, including the palmar surface of the left hand upon which you’ll note classic maculopapular rash of chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Right lateral surface of a patient’s right lower leg and foot with classic maculopapular rash of chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Right lateral surface of a patient’s right lower leg and foot with classic maculopapular rash of chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Back of boy with chickenpox. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Varicella From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Varicella From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Varicella From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Varicella From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Varicella From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Varicella From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Varicella From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Varicella From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Vasculitis leukocytoclasia. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Vasculitis leukocytoclasia. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Vasculitis leukocytoclasia. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Vasculitis leukocytoclasia. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
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Vasculitis leukocytoclasia. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [2]
Unvaccinated Individuals
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Girl with a secondary skin infection due to chickenpox.
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Chickenpox in an unvaccinated child.
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Chickenpox in an unvaccinated adult.
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Chickenpox in unvaccinated adult.
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Chickenpox in unvaccinated child.
Vaccinated Individuals
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Image of Breakthrough Chickenpox: Back of child with breakthrough varicella.
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Image of Breakthrough Chickenpox: Back of child with breakthrough varicella.
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The skin lesions of breakthrough varicella can be macular rather than vesicular. They are rarely bullous or hemorrhagic, and residual scarring is less common.
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Breakthrough varicella on the abdomen of a vaccinated child.
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Breakthrough varicella on the back of a vaccinated child.
References
- ↑ McPherson & Pincus: Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, 21st ed., 2007, Chapter 54.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 "Public Health Image Library (PHIL)".