VARICELLA-ZOSTER MENINGITIS – CASE REPORT
Abstract
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) belongs to the group of alpha herpesviruses, and causes two epidemiologically and clinically distinct diseases, chickenpox or varicella as the primary VZV infection, while shingles respresents the endogenous reactivation of latent VZV infection, typically occuring in older individuls and rarely in younger ones. This is a case report of a 12-year-old boy who was hospitalized at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the University Clinical Center Tuzla, diagnosed with meningitis from February 20, 2023, to March 7, 2023. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis upon admission showed moderate pleocytosis with mild proteinorrhoea and hypoglycorrhoea. Cerebrospinal fluid was also subjected to microbiological analysis, which returned a positive PCR result for varicella-zoster virus. Laboratory findings showed stable parameters of inflammation throughout the hospitalization. Parenteral antiviral therapy (acyclovir ampoules) was initiated upon admission and continued for 14 days. Follow-up cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed significant improvement. The boy was discharged home in a recovered state with recommendations for follow-up tests and examinations. Varicella-zoster meningitis is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening complication following primary infection with the varicella-zoster virus, particularly in immunocompromised patients with symptoms of CNS involvement.
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DOI: 10.5457/ams.v54i1.742
