No abstract

Paediatric patients hospitalised with varicella (n = 1575) were reported to a French national network between March 2003 and July 2005. Superinfection was identified in 50.3% of cases, principally of skin and soft-tissue (36.5%). The risk of superinfection increased with fever relapse, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, prolonged fever, an age of 1-5 years, and contamination at the childminder's home. Neurological complications were observed in 7.8% of cases, while pulmonary complications were less frequent (3.1%). Forty-nine patients had sequelae and eight patients died. Surveillance should continue in France with a view to the future implementation of a universal vaccination programme.

This study failed to demonstrate an increased risk or earlier onset of zoster in members of CMO not exposed to VZV, compared with that in the GP. Although adults highly exposed to VZV could have a reduced risk of zoster, compared with the GP, our results suggest that the opposite is not true: adults not exposed to VZV are not at increased risk of zoster when compared with the GP, challenging the relevance of the assumptions and forecasts of current epidemiological models.

Varicella is a widespread disease of childhood resulting from primary infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV).