VARICELLA-ZOSTER INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA

During the period July 1986 through December 1991, 67 children were tr eated for non-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at The Juliane Marie Centre, GGK, The University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. Twen ty-five children were susceptible to varicella tester (VZ) virus at di agnosis. For these patients the cumulated risk of VZ exposure was 90% after 32 months. Five patients developed varicella (two of whom had pn eumonitis) during the period of antileukemic treatment. Two of these h ad received prophylactic treatment with acyclovir. The 2 year cumulate d risk of having chickenpox or herpes tester in children with previous VZ infection was 24% and 34%, respectively. VZ vaccination ought to b e considered for this group of children In order to diminish transmiss ion and morbidity.