Zoster is frequently seen in the patients with Hodgkin's disease or with immunosuppressive therapy, which could result in systemic dissemination of the virus. Symptoms and signs of pneumonia develop a few days after the rash appears. Cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, tachycardia, pleuritic pain, cyanosis and fever are common. A leukocytosis is present in one third of cases. The characteristic radiographic appearance is patchy, diffuse airspace consolidation manifested by a multitude of acinar shadows.
Pleural effusions are uncommon.
An second manifestation of chicken pox pneumonia is tiny widespread foci of calcification throughout both lungs. They are considered to be remote or healed lesions. All rights reserved.