Hemoptysis in an asthmatic child in the course of varicella - A case report

Varicella is a common childhood disease, however severe complications in otherwise healthy children are rare. The most common complications comprise bacterial superinfections and neurological disorders. Hemoptysis in children is extremely rare and usually due to trauma, exacerbations of chronic pulmonary conditions, e.g. cystic fibrosis, bacterial lower respiratory tract infections and coagulopathies. There are scarce reports in the literature on hemoptysis in children in the course of varicella pneumonitis. We report of a case of an asthmatic immunocompetent boy with hemoptysis in the course of varicella pneumonitis. Complications of chickenpox in children and causes of hemoptysis are further discussed.