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Unusual presentation of more common disease/injury
CASE REPORT
Necrotising fasciitis as a complication of primary varicella infection in an immunocompetent child
  1. Karthik Darmasseelane,
  2. Teresa Banks,
  3. Tatiana Rjabova
  1. Department of Paediatrics, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Karthik Darmasseelane, kd508{at}doctors.net.uk

Summary

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is an infrequent yet significant complication of primary varicella infection in immunocompetent children. We report a case of a 4-year-old girl who presented three days into her chicken pox illness, with a rapidly progressing, severely tender erythematous rash surrounding one chicken pox lesion on her thigh. She required intravenous antibiotics, two surgical debridements, a skin graft and a prolonged stay in the paediatric intensive care unit, but ultimately we were able to save her life and limb. NF is a rare complication of chicken pox that has high morbidity and mortality that requires prompt and specific treatment.

  • paediatrics
  • infectious diseases
  • vaccination/immunisation

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2018-225018

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors All authors contributed to interim drafts of the paper, and reviewed and approved the final manuscript. KD, TB and TR were all involved with the clinical management of the patient.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent Parental/guardian consent obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.