Complications of varicella requiring hospitalization in previously healthy children

Jackson, Mary Anne; Burry, Virgil F.; Olson, Lloyd C.

doi:10.1097/00006454-199206000-00004

Cited by 106 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Our findings are not directly comparable to those from studies performed before the vaccine era, because those investigations were limited to more severe cases (ie, hospitalizations or deaths). 1,18,19 Being 6 to 11 months of age was an independent predictor of more severe disease in infants even after adjustment for preexisting immunosuppressive illness and number of lesions. Rates of varicella-related complications among infants aged 6 to 11 months from our community-based assessment were twice that of infants aged 0 to 5 months, a finding that is consistent with previous reports of complication rates among infants hospitalized with varicella.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Rates of varicella-related complications among infants aged 6 to 11 months from our community-based assessment were twice that of infants aged 0 to 5 months, a finding that is consistent with previous reports of complication rates among infants hospitalized with varicella. 18,19 These findings that rates of complications are 2 to 3 times higher among older infants are likely attributable to decline in passively acquired maternal VZV antibodies after the first few months of life. [7][8][9][10][11][12] In our study, the risk of hospitalization was similar in both age groups, possibly because of a low threshold for hospital admission among very young infants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…[2][3][4]18,19 Overall, 11% of the infants developed varicella-related complications, and of them, 25% were hospitalized. Our findings are not directly comparable to those from studies performed before the vaccine era, because those investigations were limited to more severe cases (ie, hospitalizations or deaths).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Varicella in Infants After Implementation of the US Varicella Vaccination Program

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT:Risk of severe varicella disease in infants might not be uniform throughout the first year of life, because maternal antibodies decline over time. The risk of infant exposure to varicella can be decreased by indirect vaccination (or herd immunity) effects. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:Tremendous indirect benefits of the US varicella vaccination program were demonstrated by a 90% decrease in varicella incidence among infants. Clinical disease was milder in younger (0 -5 months) versus older (6 -11 months) infants, possibly because of the presence of maternal antibodies to varicella-zoster virus.abstract OBJECTIVE: To describe varicella disease in infants since implementation of the varicella vaccination program in the United States. PATIENTS AND METHODS:From 1995 to 2008, demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic data on cases of varicella in infants were collected prospectively through a community-based active surveillance project. We examined disease patterns for infants in 2 age groups: 0 to 5 and 6 to 11 months. RESULTS:Infant varicella disease incidence declined 89.7% from 1995 to 2008. Infants aged 0 to 5 months had milder clinical disease than those aged 6 to 11 months: Ն50 lesions, 49% vs 58% (P ϭ .038); fever (body temperature Ͼ 38°C), 12% vs 21% (P ϭ .014); and varicellarelated complications, 6% vs 14% (P ϭ .009), respectively. Age was an independent predictor of the occurrence of complications. CONCLUSIONS:The varicella vaccination program has resulted in substantial indirect benefits for infants, who are not eligible for vaccination. Presence of maternal varicella-zoster virus antibodies might explain attenuated disease in very young infants likely born to mothers with history of varicella. Although varicella disease incidence has declined, exposure to varicella-zoster virus continues to occur. Improving varicella vaccination coverage in all age groups will further reduce the risk of varicella exposure and protect those not eligible for varicella vaccination.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Varicella in Infants After Implementation of the US Varicella Vaccination Program

et al. 2011

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…VZV infections are common in children and most recover without complication. Serious complications are rare but may be life threatening, including bacterial superinfection, Reye's syndrome, encephalitis, and pneumonia [1]. However, VZV is a cardiotrophic virus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Varicella Zoster Myopericarditis

Sayin

2011

J Med Cases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Varicella zoster virus infections are common in children and most recover without complication. Myopericarditis is an uncommon but serious complication of varicella zoster virus infection and may lead to severe morbidity and mortality. Myopericarditis can be very similar to acute myocardial infarction at presentation and therefore may have result with thrombolytic mistreatment. We report a case with chickenpox myopericarditis suggestive of acute myocardial infarction.

show abstract

“…Although the vast majority of affected children experience a benign course, one of every 1000 cases of chickenpox is estimated to require hospitalization (1). There is only one study examining children hospitalized with VZV infections since acyclovir became available (2), and it is restricted to previously healthy children admitted because of a complication of varicella. Recent information about other pediatric patient populations and reasons for admission related to VZV infections is lacking.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Varicella Zoster Virus Infections in Canadian Children in the Prevaccine Era: A Hospital‐Based Study

Kuhn

Davies

Jadavji

1997

Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiolog

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

S Kuhn, HD Davies, T Jadavji. Varicella zoster virus infections in Canadian children in the pre-vaccine era:A hospital-based study. Can J Infect Dis 1997;8(6):323-328. OBJECTIVE:To describe the clinical course of children admitted for varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections to a pediatric hospital before the release of VZV vaccine in Canada. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary pediatric hospital. Population studied was children aged 18 years or younger admitted to hospital between 1983 and 1992 who were discharged with a diagnosis of varicella or zoster. Of the 201 children who were identified, 36 were excluded, leaving 165 for analysis. RESULTS: There was a male:female ratio of 1.5:1 and a median age of 5.3 years (range two weeks to 18 years). The group included those who were previously healthy (70, 42.4%), immunocompromised (60, 36.4%), and those with nonimmunocompromising conditions (35, 21.2%). Comparison of immunocompetent and immunocompromised children revealed that complication of VZV infection was a more common reason for admission among the former (86 of 105, 81.9%, P<0.001), whereas treatment with acyclovir to limit dissemination was the most common reason in the latter (53 of 60, 88.3%, P<0.001). Skin and soft tissue infections were the most common complications in immunocompetent children (36 of 98) and those younger than five years (26 of 53), whereas pulmonary complications predominated among immunocompromised patients (eight of 98) and neurological complications in five-to 10-year-olds (16 of 36). Only one death (0.6%) occurred in an immunocompetent patient. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus caused equal numbers of secondary infections (92% of all isolates). CONCLUSIONS: Complications of VZV infections and secondary prophylactic antiviral treatment of immunocompromised children explain the majority of hospitalizations in this institution, and can be monitored after VZV vaccine introduction. Complications vary significantly with underlying healthy status and age. Key Words: Childhood, Complications, Varicella zoster infectionsInfections au virus varicella-zona chez les enfants canadiens à l'époque prévaccinale : étude menée dans les hôpitaux OBJECTIFS : Décrire l'évolution clinique des enfants admis pour des infections au virus varicella-zona dans un hôpital pédiatrique avant la mise en marché d'un vaccin anti-VZV au Canada. MODÈLE : Série de cas rétrospectifs. CONTEXTE : Hôpital pédiatrique de soins tertiaires. La population étudiée regroupait des enfants de 18 ans ou moins

show abstract

Complications of varicella requiring hospitalization in previously healthy children

Cited by 106 publications

References 0 publications

Varicella in Infants After Implementation of the US Varicella Vaccination Program

Varicella in Infants After Implementation of the US Varicella Vaccination Program

Varicella Zoster Myopericarditis

Varicella Zoster Virus Infections in Canadian Children in the Prevaccine Era: A Hospital‐Based Study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About