A Rare Presentation of Varicella: Acute Appendicitis
S Kılıç*, G Özçifçi*, A Atıcı*, A Kılınçer**
*Aksaray State Hospital
**Zile State Hospital
Chickenpox
is an infectious disease caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) and generally
affects children. Although it is a self-limiting mild infectious disease in most
of the affected patients, it may cause a serious clinic especially in newborns,
adolescents, immunosuppressive patients and pregnants. Acute appendicitis is
one of the most exceptional complications of varicella and only a few cases are
reported. We aimed to present a case
of varicella who was diagnosed as acute appendicitis initially and had vesicular
rash on the second post-operative day. A 10-year-old female patient was admitted
to our hospital with complaints of abdominal pain lasting for 2 days and
vomiting. There was no rash on the skin at first examination. Her abdomen was
sensitive especially in the right lower quadrant. Blood count revealed normal
haemoglobin concentration and platelet count. The white blood cell count was
12.9 x 103 /L and C-reactive protein was 40 mg/L. Biochemical parameters and
urine analysis were normal. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed acute appendicitis with a diameter of
10 milimeters. Patient underwent appendectomy. On the second postoperative day, generalized vesicular rash appeared on
her body. Elisa test was positive for Anti VZV IgM and IgG antibodies. It is
considered that lymphoid hyperplasia which is developing in the incubation
period of the infection, have caused acute appendicitis. Although varicella is generally
a mild infectious disease for children, it rarely causes surgery requiring complications
in adolescents. Advanced studies are necessary in order to understand the role
of the virus in the acute appendicitis.
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