health

The most common complication of chicken pox is
cellulitis*, a skin infection caused by bacteria such as streptococci (streptuh-
KAH-kye) and staphylococci (stah-fih-lo-KAH-kye), which can
invade the skin through repeated scratching of pox sores.
If a woman becomes infected with chicken pox during the first
20 weeks of pregnancy, there is a 2 percent risk that her baby will be born
with congenital* varicella syndrome*, including multiple birth defects.
Maternal infection during the final stages of pregnancy, before the mother
has developed antibodies, can cause life-threatening varicella infection in
her baby.
People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV*/
AIDS* or cancer* or who are undergoing chemotherapy* are at particular
risk for widespread infection from either chicken pox or shingles. Varicella
infection can spread to the lungs causing pneumonia*. Even in healthy
people pneumonia from varicella can be dangerous and potentially fatal.
Newborn babies, teens, and adults are at greater risk than children. Adults
are also more at risk for other serious—but rare—complications, including
liver* and kidney* disease and encephalitis*.
Untreated shingles rash on the face can spread to the eye. Involvement
of the cornea* can lead to temporary or permanent blindness. Rarely
shingles can cause hearing loss or death.