The duration of the disease is at least 2 weeks. It begins in late stages of varicella, with vomiting, restlessness, irritability, and progressive decrease in the level of consciousness, associated with progressive cerebral edema. Healing of the cutaneous lesions takes three times longer than in the general population. Patients develop high fever. Virus spreads to visceral organs causing hepatitis, pneumonitis, pancreatitis, small bowel obstruction and encephalitis.
Bacterial superinfections including bacteremia can develop.
Antiviral therapy significantly reduces morbidity and can reduce mortality. The patients often have microcephaly, cortical atrophy, seizures, mental retardation, chorioretinitis, microphthalmia, or cataracts. Newborns whose mothers develop varicella close to term are at risk of neonatal varicella. These babies can be born with varicella lesions or develop lesions after birth, but they will not have serious complications. Premature infants 24-25 weeks do not acquire maternal VZV antibodies.