Chickenpox in mid-trimester pregnancy: always innocent?

A case of congenital varicella infection is presented, in which despite profound cerebral damage, the cardinal features of cicatricial skin lesions and limb shortening were absent. The case is compared with previously described cases, and with published series, in which this combination is uncommon. The risks of maternal varicella infection to the developing fetus are discussed in the light of recent prospective studies which demonstrate a rather lower risk than had previously been thought to be the case.