Complications associated with smallpox

Known complications include:

• Dermatological problems: Scarring / pockmarks ⁽¹²), as well as abscess formation and furuncles (boils) – often due to secondary bacterial infections.
• Ophthalmologic problems: Conjunctivitis, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid), ulceration of the cornea, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) and blindness (partial or complete loss of vision in the affected eye/s). ⁽¹³⁾
• Respiratory problems: Pneumonitis (pneumonia) ⁽¹⁴⁾, bronchopneumonia (inflammation of the bronchi / air passages allowing airflow into the lungs) and pulmonary oedema (excess accumulation of fluid in the lungs).
• Orthopaedic problems: Inflammation and swelling of the elbow joint, osteomyelitis variolosa (infection of the bone and joints) ⁽¹⁵⁾ and viral arthritis.
• Pregnancy and infant-related problems: haemorrhagic disease (a bleeding disorder affecting newborns), intrauterine infections, premature delivery and neonatal mortality (death of a newborn baby within 28 days of life). ⁽¹⁶⁾
• Other: Dehydration, orchitis (inflammation of the male testicles), sepsis, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and death (most often after developing coagulopathy – a bleeding disorder, hypotension – low blood pressure or multiple-organ failure).

References:

^{12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. December 2016. Smallpox - Clinical Disease: https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/clinicians/clinical-disease.html [Accessed 06.04.2018]}

^{13. JAMA Opthamology. May 2003. The Ocular Complications of Smallpox and Smallpox Immunization: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/415346 [Accessed 06.04.2018]}

^{14. The New England Journal of Medicine. April 2002. Diagnosis and Management of Smallpox: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra020025 [Accessed 06.04.2018]}

^{15. British Medical Journal (BMJ). January 1964. Bone Lesions due to Smallpox: http://adc.bmj.com/content/archdischild/39/208/591.full.pdf [Accessed 06.04.2018]}

^{16. US National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. July 2006.Smallpox during Pregnancy and Maternal Outcomes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3293446/ Accessed 06.04.2018]}