[Disseminated intravascular coagulation in chickenpox. Report of a case in a child].

The case of a healthy and immunocompetent five-year-old boy, who developed a disseminated intravascular coagulation during chickenpox is described. Disseminated intravascular coagulation manifestations were extremely severe and included macroscopic hematuria, necrotic purpura and cerebrovascular thrombosis. The outcome in this patient was a complete recovery. Nevertheless, the possibility of a seriously complicated course of chickenpox even in low-risk children subgroups suggests that the Varicella-Zoster virus infection should not be underestimated. More accurate information about the impact of chickenpox and its complications on the population is needed, in order to provide a contribution for the debate about the costs associated with this disease and the potential benefits of both the early antiviral therapy and the vaccinal prophylaxis.