Pediatric Chickenpox Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Kirsten A Bechtel, MD; Chief Editor: Russell W Steele, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 28, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Conditions that should be considered in the diagnosis of pediatric varicella include the following:

  • Drug reactions
  • Insect bites
  • Measles
  • Meningococcemia (can be confused with hemorrhagic varicella)
  • Other common viral exanthems (eg, coxsackievirus, echovirus)
  • Smallpox (no cases since 1949; virus officially destroyed in 1996)
  • Papular urticaria
  • Dermatitis herpetiformis
  • Eczema herpeticum

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Kirsten A Bechtel, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital

Kirsten A Bechtel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Archana Chatterjee, MD, PhD  Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and Pharmacy, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Chief of Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Creighton University School of Medicine; Hospital Epidemiologist and Medical Director of Infection Control, Children's Hospital

Archana Chatterjee, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology, International Society for Infectious Diseases, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard Lichenstein, MD  Associate Professor, Pediatric Emergency Department, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Richard Lichenstein, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Parang N Mehta, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Pediatrics, Mehta Hospital, Surat, India

Parang N Mehta, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Indian Academy of Pediatrics and Indian Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Leonard R Krilov, MD  Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and International Adoption, Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics, Winthrop University Hospital

Leonard R Krilov, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pediatric Society, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Medimmune Grant/research funds Cliinical trials; Medimmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Medimmune Consulting fee Consulting

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Leslie L Barton, MD  Professor Emerita of Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Leslie L Barton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of Pediatric Program Directors, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Wayne Wolfram, MD, MPH  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mercy St Vincent Medical Center

Wayne Wolfram, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD  Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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The pleomorphic rash characteristic of varicella. Papules, vesicles, and pustules are concurrently present.
Papulovesicular lesions on arm in varying stages of healing in this infant with varicella. Photograph courtesy of Susan Feigelman, MD.
 
 
 
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