VARICELLA-ZOSTER IMMUNOGLOBULINS ARE USED FOR PASSIVE IMMUNISATION AGAINST VARICELLA (CHICKENPOX) IN SUSCEPTIBLE PERSONS CONSIDERED TO BE AT HIGH RISK OF DEVELOPING VARICELLA-ASSOCIATED COMPLICATIONS AFTER EXPOSURE TO VARICELLA OR HERPES ZOSTER (SHINGLES).
IN THE UK, VARICELLA-ZOSTER IMMUNOGLOBULINS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK OF SEVERE VARICELLA AND WHO HAVE NO ANTIBODIES TO VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS AND WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO CHICKENPOX OR HERPES ZOSTER. THOSE AT INCREASED RISK INCLUDE IMMUNOSUPPRESSED PATIENTS, NEONATES INCLUDING THOSE WHOSE MOTHERS DEVELOP CHICKENPOX (BUT NOT HERPES ZOSTER) IN THE PERIOD 7 DAYS BEFORE TO 7 DAYS AFTER DELIVERY, AND PREGNANT WOMEN. VARICELLA-ZOSTER IMMUNOGLOBULIN DOES NOT PREVENT INFECTION WHEN GIVEN AFTER EXPOSURE BUT MAY MODIFY THE COURSE OF DISEASE. TREATMENT WITH ANTIVIRALS MAY BE NECESSARY IN SEVERE DISEASE .