Zoster-associated intracranial hypertension.

A 14-year-old female presented with headache, vomiting, and a rash. She was found to have papilledema and herpes zoster. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed pleocytosis and an elevated protein concentration. Varicella-zoster virus deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction. Intracranial hypertension was treated by repeated lumbar puncture and with acetazolamide. This case represents an unusual complication of the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus.