TY - JOUR T1 - The outcome of severe varicella pneumonia with respiratory failure admitted to the intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.00407-2018 SP - 1800407 AU - Kiran George John AU - Thadathilankal-Jess John AU - Jantjie J Taljaard AU - Usha Lalla AU - Tonya M Esterhuzien AU - Elvis M Irusen AU - Coenraad FN Koegelenberg Y1 - 2018/01/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2018/04/05/13993003.00407-2018.abstract N2 - Varicella pneumonia carries a mortality of 10–30%; mortality rate increases to 50% in patients that warrant mechanical ventilation secondary to respiratory failure despite appropriate antiviral and supportive treatment. Risk factors for the development of severe disease include cigarette smoking, pregnancy, immunocompromised states and a more extensive skin involvement.1 Treatment options for life-threatening varicella consist mainly of cardiorespiratory support, antiviral therapy and steroid use. The benefit of antiviral therapy however, is still controversial.2Varicella pneumonia in our population studied still carries a high mortality rate (29.2%). Metabolic acidosis, a higher APACHE II score and the presence of acute renal failure on admission predicted poor outcome.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Kiran GeorgeConflict of interest: Dr. John has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Taljaard has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Lalla has nothing to disclose.M . EsterhuzienConflict of interest: Dr. Irusen has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Koegelenberg has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: Dr. Esterhuizen has nothing to disclose. ER -