Onset of juvenile dermatomyositis following varicella infection in a 12-month-old child: A case report

Abstract

Introduction. Infections can act as a trigger for juvenile dermatomyositis, with a predominance of respiratory tract infections reported previously. We present the first case of juvenile dermatomyositis following varicella infection to be described in the literature. Case presentation. A 15-month-old Caucasian girl was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis 3 months after a varicella infection. The diagnosis was challenging due to her young age, but was supported by magnetic resonance imaging, and confirmed following a later appearance of the characteristic skin rash. Conclusion: Varicella infection may be a trigger for juvenile dermatomyositis. Further understanding of disease triggers is required. © 2014 McCrea et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.