Introduction: Disseminated varicella zoster infection has only rarely been reported in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, despite the frequent use of azathioprine for this disorder.
Case report: We report the case of an 18-year-old woman who developed severe varicella zoster pneumonia 9 months after starting azathioprine for Crohn’s disease. The patient recovered after prompt treatment with acyclovir and discontinuation of the azathioprine.
Conclusions: Strategies concerning the treatment and the prevention of varicella infection in the immunocompromised patient are discussed.
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