Question:medium
A pregnant woman whose niece contracted varicella in the same house was negative for serum antibodies of varicella. What would this mean?
A pregnant woman whose niece contracted varicella in the same house was negative for serum antibodies of varicella. What would this mean?
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Absent VZV antibodies indicates no prior exposure, which determines susceptibility to primary infection.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- She is susceptible to zoster
- She is susceptible to chicken pox
- She is immune to chicken pox
- She is immune to zoster
Show Solution
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Varicella serology in a pregnant contact:
The key data: pregnant woman, household exposure to varicella, serum VZV antibody = negative.
Interpretation of VZV antibody status:
Clinical importance: In pregnancy, primary varicella can cause congenital varicella syndrome (limb hypoplasia, skin scarring, CNS defects) if contracted before 20 weeks, and neonatal varicella if contracted near delivery. The management is VZIG (varicella-zoster immunoglobulin) within 96 hours of exposure.
\[\boxed{\text{She is susceptible to chicken pox}}\]
The key data: pregnant woman, household exposure to varicella, serum VZV antibody = negative.
Interpretation of VZV antibody status:
- Positive IgG: Prior chickenpox or vaccination = immune; no risk of primary varicella; zoster possible if virus reactivates later.
- Negative IgG: No prior chickenpox, no vaccination = susceptible to primary varicella (chickenpox); she cannot develop zoster because zoster is reactivation of latent VZV -- no latent virus exists if she never had chickenpox.
Clinical importance: In pregnancy, primary varicella can cause congenital varicella syndrome (limb hypoplasia, skin scarring, CNS defects) if contracted before 20 weeks, and neonatal varicella if contracted near delivery. The management is VZIG (varicella-zoster immunoglobulin) within 96 hours of exposure.
\[\boxed{\text{She is susceptible to chicken pox}}\]
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