THE BLOOD PICTURE IN CHICKENPOX

The blood picture in chickenpox has received little attention in textbooks on pediatrics. The discussion in "The Diseases of Infants and Children" by Griffith and Mitchell¹ is exceptional. Furthermore, one could not learn much of the subject from books on hematology until Downey² reviewed the literature, in 1938. Other surveys had previously appeared in various articles, notably those by Ciuca, Tudoranu and Francke,³ Vitetti⁴ and Salvadei.⁵ These authors also added their own contributions. It is quickly evident from these accounts that a typical blood formula for varicella has not yet been described. Indeed, so many different findings have been recorded that the words written by Da Costa⁶ thirty-five years ago may well be repeated today, "It is obvious that the contradictory reports of various observers must be reconciled by further investigation before the blood examination in varicella can have any dependable clinical bearing."

There are a number of