What complications are commonly associated with chickenpox?
Complications can occur from chickenpox. Those most susceptible to severe cases of chickenpox are adults and people with impaired immune systems. Complications may include: • secondary bacterial infections • pneumonia • encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) • cerebellar ataxia (defective muscular coordination) • transverse myelitis (inflammation along the spinal cord) • Reye syndrome – a serious condition; a group of symptoms that may affect all major systems or organs. Children with varicella should not be given aspirin because administration of aspirin to children with varicella increases the risk of Reye syndrome.
