Complications of Varicella in Healthy Children: Is It Increasing?

Abstract

ABS TRACTÖZET Aim: Varicella is a common and self-limiting disease caused by the varicella zoster. However it may cause severe morbidity and mortality, due to complications in healthy children. These complications can be prevented by vaccination. The aim of this study was to determine the type of complications of varicella in hospitalized children. Also these data were compared with the study carried out in 2005 and changes in the varicella hospitalizations were analyzed to obtain the necessary data for the study of the vaccine. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study involving 262 children hospitalized for complications due to varicella between January 2005 and December 2009 was carried out. Incidence and clinical spectrum of complications and their age and seasonal variations related distribution was analyzed. Results: We identified 262 children hospitalized for complications of varicella. Fourteen children with immune deficiency or on immunosuppressive treatment were excluded. The majority of varicella complications occurred in children under 5 years of age. The most common complications were infectious complications (41.9%). Thereafter, neurologic complications (35.6%) and hematological complications were seen (3.6%). The seasonal distribution of complications associated with varicella had a higher incidence in January (21.4%). Three patients died due to these complications. Conclusion: Complications of varicella were more frequent than previously reported. Also mortality rates were higher than those in the previous study. Varicella can be accompanied by severe complications and death in immunologically healthy children. In this study, the importance of varicella vaccination was emphasized again.