PAEDIATRIC STROKE POST VARICELLA ANGIOPATHY - A CASE REPORT

Stroke has emerged as an important cause of acquired brain injury in newborns and children. The reported incidence of combined ischemic and haemorrhagic paediatric stroke ranges from 1.2 to 13 cases per 100,000 children under 18 years of age and around 1 in 2000 newborns. Varicella is a common usually benign disease of childhood caused by varicella zoster virus. VZV infections can induce cerebral angiopathy that affects most often the middle cerebral artery (1). Here we present a case of a 5 months old female child who presented with focal seizures and paucity of movements of right upper limb with history of chicken pox around 8 weeks back. Imaging was done which revealed a massive infarct involving middle cerebral artery territory. Anti-thrombin III, Protein C and S, Homocysteine and phospholipid antibodies levels were done and were found to be within normal limits. CSF cytology and biochemical parameters were normal. CSF Ig M for varicella was positive. Child treated with anticonvulsants, and acyclovir was given along with physiotherapy. We report this case to emphasize a rare complication of varicella manifesting in the form of stroke due to angiopathy