The epidemiology of varicella and its complications.
The automated records of over 250,000 members of a health maintenance organization were analyzed to assess the epidemiology of varicella and its complications between 1 July 1990 and 30 June 1992. All complications were verified by review of full-text medical records. The incidence rates of varicella in persons < 15 years of age were 20%-50% lower than published figures, probably reflecting underreporting. The rates in those > or = 15 years old, however, were greater than those reported for 1972-1978 (607 vs. 291/10(5) years, 15-19 years old; 175 vs. 33/10(5) years, > or = 20 years old). The rates of hospitalization for uncomplicated varicella, skin superinfections, and pneumonia in children were, respectively, 15, 11, and 4 times higher than previous estimates. Hospitalization rates for adults with pneumonia and uncomplicated varicella were > 5 times higher than prior figures. Thus, varicella in adults and varicella complications in general may be more frequent than previously estimated.
Choo
P W
PW
Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Donahue
J G
JG
Manson
J E
JE
Platt
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics