[Varicella and herpes zoster].

The identity of the virus for herpes zoster and chickenpox has long been guessed by pediatricians and eventually proven in 1958. The patients are infectious 2 days before the rash appears until 7 days later. Specific antibodies are found 2 days after the rash appeared. Varicella induce life long immunity which can weaken in old age or during immuno suppressive therapy, so that reactivation of the virus, most likely located in the spinal ganglia, causes the clinical symptoms of herpes zoster. About 7% of women in child-bearing age have no antibodies against the virus. Varicella during pregnancy may induce abortion or especially during the first 3 months severe embryopathies with organic lesions. Therefore young women who have not had the illness should be tested along with the test for rubella-antibodies, and subsequently vaccinated, at least 3 months before any planned pregnancy. The rather expensive varicella vaccination is justified in immunodeficient patients without varicella-antibodies, or in patients under immunosuppressive therapy without varicella-antibodies (minimal requirements of 1200 lymphocytes, interruption of cytostatics one week before and until 1 week after the vaccination, no irradiation for 3 months), or in women planning pregnancy, personnel caring for pregnant women or personnel who has no antibodies in intensive-care units for hematological-onkological patients.