Congenital varicella associated with multiple defects.

Only two previous reports in the medical literature record the association of multiple congenital defects in the baby and varicella in the mother during the first trimester of pregnancy.The case is reported of a female infant born to a mother who contracted varicella in the 11th week of pregnancy. The infant was premature, small for dates, and had skin and localized muscular defects and respiratory difficulty. Subsequently she was found to be retarded. She failed to thrive and was subject to frequent infections. Further investigation revealed a unilateral diaphragmatic weakness, scoliosis and abnormalities of the ocular fundi. Several non-febrile seizures occurred. A pneumoencephalogram revealed dilated ventricles. She died at 20 months of age following a seizure.Consideration of maternal infections, especially viral, occurring early in pregnancy, augmented by antibody studies in the newborn and mother should be part of the investigation of multiple congenital defects in the newborn.