Cost of Varicella in France: A Study in Day Care Centers

Abstract

To assess the cost of varicella in young children in France, a prospective study was done in day care centers. Children (1263), who were 3 months to 3 years old and attending day care, were followed over a varicella season. For every child who developed varicella (n = 200), detailed information was obtained by use of parental questionnaires. Questions concerned medical care, days missed from work for parents, and the need for extra baby-sitting. On average, each sick child had one consultation with a physician and received three medications. In half of the families (52%), at least 1 parent had to miss work an average of 4.5 days to care for a sick child. Total costs to society were estimated to be US$352 per family, with medical costs accounting for 22% of the cost. The average eventual cost to parents was $89 per family, including $80 of non-medical costs. This study emphasizes the important socioeconomic impact of varicella in the day care setting in France.

Epidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Canada and the United Kingdom

“…The estimated percent of children with varicella seen by a physician for each year of age for 0-6 years were 57, 48, 32, 21, 22, 27 and 30 %. These estimates fit the reported data for frequency of physician visits for children with chickenpox [25][26][27][28]. Similar estimates for those over 7 years of age were derived from the literature assuming that all individuals contract varicella during their lifetime [1,29].…”

Epidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Canada and the United Kingdom – CORRIGENDUM

“…The estimated percent of children with varicella seen by a physician for each year of age for 0-6 years were 57, 48, 32, 21, 22, 27 and 30 %. These estimates fit the reported data for frequency of physician visits for children with chickenpox [25][26][27][28]. Similar estimates for those over 7 years of age were derived from the literature assuming that all individuals contract varicella during their lifetime [1,29].…”

Impact of methodology on the results of economic evaluations of varicella vaccination programs: is it important for decision-making?

“…The lowest value (0.6 days) was reported for the first time by Banz et al 42 , estimated from an epidemiological survey in Germany. Brisson & Edmunds 43 presented the same figure (0.6 days) based on epidemiological studies in Europe 35,36,53 , and Coudeville et al 48 and Hammerschmidt et al 52 used the same estimate initially reported by Banz et al 42 . The highest value (5 days) came from an assumption in the first economic evaluation study on the varicella vaccine 32 , in 1994.…”

“…While some authors 48,52 repeated the value (0.6 days) initially reported by Banz et al 42 or presented the same value 43 as in epidemiological studies conducted in Europe 35,36,53 , others assumed a higher figure (5 days). It was not surprising that the highest percentage of indirect costs in the total cost of varicella (98%) 34 was associated with the second highest cost of a workday (PPP$316.90).…”