[Varicella during pregnancy: report of 13 cases and review of the recent literature].

Varicella occurs infrequently during pregnancy, but its natural history is not well defined and it is not certain that it is more severe in pregnant women that in other adults. For this reason a survey of 34 adult patients with varicella, admitted to Hospital das Clínicas--FMUSP from 1976 to 1986 was carried out. There were included 13 pregnant women and 21 other immunocompetent adults (11 males and 10 females). Average age in pregnant patients was 21.4 years; 24.6 years in adult females and 25.9 in adult males. In the latter group 10 patients had complications (47.6%) and in the pregnant group only four (30.7%). In three pregnant women (23%) and in four non pregnant women (36.3%) pneumonitis occurred. Pregnant women with pneumonitis developed respiratory failure, a feature not seen among immunocompetent adults.