Varicella-related hospitalization in children: A retrospective study in the pre-vaccine era in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Aim: Varicella is predominantly a childhood disease in non-vaccinated populations. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the indications of hospital admissions, complications of varicella infection and their clinical characteristics among previously healthy and children. with underlying illness Material and Methods: Hospital records of children hospitalized for varicella between January 2000 and August 2007 were reviewed. Results: A total of 34 children were hospitalized during the study period, 38% of the patients were previously healthy and 62% were previously ill patients. Previously well children were hospitalized because of varicella-related complications and previously ill children were usually hospitalized for antiviral therapy or for observation. There were 25 complications in 21 patients. The most common complication was secondary bacterial infections reported in 8 children (23%) and was more common in healthy children (p<0.01). Hepatitis and arthritis were present in 3 (9%), thrombocytopenia, varicella pneumonia and stomatitis were present in 2 (6%) and disseminated varicella and encephalitis were present in 1 (3%) patient. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of hepatitis, arthritis, stomatitis, varicella pneumoniae, thrombocytopenia, encephalitis, and disseminated varicella between previously ill and well children (p<0.05). Varicella-related complications observed in healthy children were more severe than the ones observed in previously ill patients. Conclusion: Our study confirms that healthy children are at risk for severe complications of varicella, especially secondary bacterial infections, leading to hospitalization. Thus, an universal childhood varicella immunization may reduce the rate of varicella-related complications and admissions in our country.