Fatal varicella in a healthy young adult.

A healthy adult presented with severe neurological disturbance 4 d after developing chicken-pox. Although pneumonic and renal problems were also present the neurological state dominated the clinical picture. After the patient's sudden death an autopsy revealed that renal and cerebral problems were secondary to myocardial involvement. This was of an unusual type for varicella with features of dilated cardiomyopathy resembling that previously related to Coxsackie infections. We conclude that cardiac problems in this patient produced anoxic brain damage and subsequently death.