Varicella Arthritis

Abstract

Varicella arthritis is a rare and usually self-resolving complication of chickenpox. The reports in the literature are few and far between.13 I have had the opportunity to observe a case of what I believe to have been varicella arthritis in my practice. On June 26, 1978 a 5-year-old boy was seen with chickenpox. Four days earlier he had broken out with a typical varicella exanthem. One day earlier he had tripped, striking his left knee, but sustaining no major injury at the time. Over the next 24 hours the patient started to complain of progressive pain in his knee and on the morning he was seen, he was unable to bear weight on it.