The patient was 4 years old, with a healthy history, normal physical and mental development. According to the mother's account, 5 days before being admitted to the hospital, the child developed severe pain in the back and right abdomen, accompanied by blisters and blisters concentrated in clusters on a red background, about 10 × 20 cm in size, localized in the back and right abdomen.
After about 3 days, the child developed more scattered, individual blisters, size 0.5–1 cm, initially in the head and face, then spreading scattered throughout the body and limbs. At the same time, the child had a fever of 38–39°C, was tired and cried a lot. The family took the child to the Central Dermatology Hospital for examination and was indicated for hospitalization for treatment.
Exploiting epidemiological factors, it was recorded that the 8-year-old older sister of the child had herpes zóster damage in the right intercostal region, originating 4 days after the child's illness.
Regarding personal history, the child had never had chickenpox before, and no history suggested immunodeficiency was recorded. The child was fully vaccinated under the National Expanded Program on Immunization but was not vaccinated against chickenpox. Notably, the child's mother had a history of chickenpox when pregnant with the child at the 8th month and was not given specific treatment.
Doctor Nguyen Thi Thao Nhi - Department of General Dermatology Treatment said: Both children's diseases are caused by Varicella Zoster virus (VZV). VZV virus often causes chickenpox in children. After recovery, the virus does not completely disappear but silently exists in the nerve nodes for many years. When the body has reduced immunity or encounters favorable conditions, the virus can reactivate and cause zona, a common disease in the elderly.
It is very rare for a healthy young child to simultaneously develop both chickenpox and zona.
After being hospitalized, the child was treated with antiviral drug acyclovir combined with fever reducers, pain relievers and supportive care. Only about 2 days after treatment, the child's fever subsided, the pain and burning sensation in the back and chest area decreased significantly, the blisters began to dry out and no new lesions appeared. In particular, the child did not experience dangerous complications or prolonged neuralgia after herpes.
According to doctors, zona can cause many complications such as prolonged neuralgia, eye damage, hearing loss, skin infections or cranial nerve palsy, especially in the elderly and people with immune deficiency. The case of a 4-year-old boy recovering well is considered quite fortunate thanks to early detection and timely treatment.
