Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi has recently seen a rise in chickenpox cases, including a 32-year-old man who unfortunately succumbed to complications associated with the illness.

Two weeks prior to his hospital admission, the patient, who had no previous health issues and was in good overall health, apparently acquired the illness from his son, who had been earlier diagnosed with chickenpox, according to his family.

Ten days following his infection, the man developed blisters on the skin accompanied by a fever, prickling sensations, and chills. 

He sought medical attention at a private clinic where he was diagnosed with chickenpox and prescribed medication. Unfortunately, the medication did not seem to help. 

The patient was later brought to Bach Mai Hospital’s emergency department exhibiting symptoms such as fever, multi-organ failure, coma, cerebral hemorrhage, lung impairment, and cardiac impairment.

The ailment advanced rapidly, necessitating the patient’s transfer to the hospital’s infectious disease center less than 24 hours after his admission to the emergency department.

“The patient arrived at the center the previous evening at 6:00 pm and had developed a rapid heartbeat by 4:00 am the next day,” said Dr. Do Duy Cuong, director of the Center for Tropical Diseases at Bach Mai. 

“By 9:00 am, his vital signs began to decline, prompting his family to ask to take him home.

“Despite doctors' diligent efforts to provide treatment, the patient was transferred to the center when it was already too late, resulting in numerous complications and ultimately leading to his untimely demise.”

Chickenpox is a prevalent contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused by the initial infection with varicella zoster virus, according to Dr. Cuong.

Complications may occasionally include pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and bacterial skin infections.

Death occurs in about one per 60,000 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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