Varicella Gangrenosa with Toxic Shock—Like Syndrome Due to Group A Streptococcus Infection in an Adult: Case Report

Varicella gangrenosa is a rare and serious complication of chickenpox that has been described in children only. We describe a case of an adult with varicella gangrenosa that presented as necrotizing fasciitis of a limb. This infection is caused by group A streptococcal superinfection of the skin les...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 1995-04, Vol.20 (4), p.1058-1060
Main Authors: González-Ruiz, Armando, Ridgway, Geoffrey L., Cohen, Simon L., Hunt, Christopher P., McGrouther, Gus, Adiseshiah, Mohankumara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antibiotics
Cellulitis
Chickenpox
Chickenpox - complications
Debridement
Fasciitis - microbiology
Gangrene - microbiology
Humans
Infections
Leg
Legs
Lesions
Male
Necrosis
Necrotizing fasciitis
Shock, Septic - complications
Skin
Streptococcal Infections - complications
Streptococcus
Streptococcus pyogenes
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Summary:Varicella gangrenosa is a rare and serious complication of chickenpox that has been described in children only. We describe a case of an adult with varicella gangrenosa that presented as necrotizing fasciitis of a limb. This infection is caused by group A streptococcal superinfection of the skin lesions due to chickenpox. It can be misdiagnosed, with fatal consequences. Because of prompt recognition and aggressive surgical and medical treatment, the patient survived without loss of the affected limb.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1093/clinids/20.4.1058