Expressnews
Chennai, July 11, 2026: Doctors at Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals successfully saved the life of a 53-year-old woman from Chennai who developed a rare and life-threatening brain condition, Varicella encephalitis following a recent chickenpox infection. The patient was brought to Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals, Global Campus, Velappanchavadi, Chennai at the end of January 2026, in a critical condition after her family noticed that she had become confused and was not responding normally. The team of doctors spearheaded by Dr. K. Jered Livingston, Senior Consultant Neurologist at Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals, evaluated her and suspected that the chickenpox virus had affected her central nervous system, causing a severe inflammatory disorder of the brain.
The patient underwent a series of diagnostic investigations, including advanced brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, which confirmed severe inflammation with bleeding in the brain caused by Varicella encephalitis. Further investigations also revealed Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST)—a blood clot in one of the major veins responsible for draining blood from the brain. Doctors informed the family that the condition could rapidly become fatal, with the risk of worsening brain injury, progressive bleeding, and dangerous fluid accumulation within the brain if not treated immediately.
The patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where she was started on antiviral therapy along with medication to reduce brain inflammation. Despite intensive treatment, her condition deteriorated over the next few days. The bleeding worsened, and excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulated in the brain, resulting in dangerously elevated intracranial pressure and a further decline in her level of consciousness. To save her life, the multidisciplinary team performed an emergency External Ventricular Drain (EVD) procedure to drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid and relieve pressure on the brain. She was also treated with Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy to control the immune-mediated inflammation and Heparin, a short-acting injectable anticoagulant, to treat the blood clot and prevent further neurological damage.
Following the emergency intervention, the patient’s condition gradually improved. She was successfully weaned off ventilator support, continued to make steady neurological recovery, and was discharged in a stable condition after 40 days of hospitalization.
” Chickenpox is generally considered a mild viral illness, it can, in rare instances, lead to severe neurological complications, particularly in adults. This case was an exceptionally challenging case involving a rare and rapidly progressive neurological complication of chickenpox. Timely diagnosis, continuous clinical reassessment, advanced neuroimaging, and coordinated multidisciplinary care were instrumental in identifying and treating these life-threatening complications, ultimately leading to a successful outcome.” Said Dr. K. Jered Livingston, Senior Consultant, Neurologist, Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals.
