A Case Report: PCR-Assisted Diagnosis of Varicella in an Adult

Satish K Mehta; Don Gilden; Brian E Crucian; Clarence F Sams; Randall J Cohrs; Duane L Pierson

doi:10.4236/ojmm.2012.23019

A Case Report: PCR-Assisted Diagnosis of Varicella in an Adult

Open J Med Microbiol. 2012 Sep;2(3):10.4236/ojmm.2012.23019. doi: 10.4236/ojmm.2012.23019.

Authors

Satish K Mehta¹, Don Gilden², Brian E Crucian³, Clarence F Sams³, Randall J Cohrs², Duane L Pierson⁴

Affiliations

¹ Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc., Houston, USA.
² Department of Neurology, The University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, USA.
³ Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, USA.
⁴ Habitability and Environmental Factors Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, USA.

Abstract

A 41-year-old woman developed skin lesions on her upper back and arm. Initially, a definitive diagnosis could not be made. Subsequently, PCR detected VZV DNA in skin lesions and saliva. Immediate antiviral treatment led to a quick recovery without complicating prolonged fatigue and weakness typically seen in adults with varicella.

Keywords: Chickenpox; Shingles; Varicella-Zoster Virus.

Abstract

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