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Chickenpox - Management
How should I manage an immunocompromised person who has been in contact with chickenpox?
- Establish whether the person fulfils the criteria for immunosuppression (if in doubt, seek specialist advice).
- Urgently seek specialist advice regarding further management.
- People who have had a significant exposure to chickenpox and who are immunocompromised should be tested for varicella-zoster antibody, regardless of their history of chickenpox. Test for varicella-zoster immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in primary care if test results can be available within 2 working days of first exposure. If this is not possible, urgently seek specialist advice because testing in secondary care and/or varicella-zoster immunoglobulin prophylaxis may be needed.
In depth
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