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Asia Pacific Family Medicine
Published in: Asia Pacific Family Medicine 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Case report

Varicella encephalitis and pneumonia in a patient with end stage renal failure

Authors: Lian Leng Low, Farhad Fakhrudin Vasanwala, Sufi Muhammad Suhail

Published in: Asia Pacific Family Medicine | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

We describe a patient with end stage renal failure (ESRF) on hemodialysis who was admitted to our department for primary varicella infection complicated by varicella pneumonia and encephalitis. Varicella infections results in serious morbidity and mortality in ESRF dialysis and transplant patients. Evidence published thus far suggests that live attenuated varicella vaccines are effective and safe in ESRF and renal transplant patients. Worldwide a few countries have instituted guidelines for the varicella immunisation in ESRF patients. However, in the Asia Pacific Region, it has not been widely given due to the lack of national consensus guidelines. Our case depicts that primary varicella infection can occur at any time in immunosupressed patients and thus suffer serious consequences from it. With increasing burden of chronic kidney disease, Renal Physicians and Family Physicians in the Asia Pacific Region should meet and study the epidemiological data in each individual country and decide on the consensus guidelines on how the varicella vaccination can be targeted for those at risk.
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Metadata
Title
Varicella encephalitis and pneumonia in a patient with end stage renal failure
Authors
Lian Leng Low
Farhad Fakhrudin Vasanwala
Sufi Muhammad Suhail
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Asia Pacific Family Medicine / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1447-056X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1447-056X-13-4

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