Fatal pulmonary embolism in an adolescent with chickenpox.

A fatal case of pulmonary emboli associated with varicella in an adolescent is reported. Review of the literature revealed confusion between pulmonary infarction and embolization, the latter having been documented with varicella only in adults before this report. Embolic phenomena should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary symptoms associated with varicella, since their recognition and treatment offers important supportive measures in the care of the frequently critically ill patients.