title: The epidemiology of varicella in school-aged Greek children before the implementation of universal vaccination.
abstract: Data on local epidemiology is necessary when deciding on the introduction of a vaccine. Parents of children attending 1st and 6th grades completed a questionnaire on demographical data and varicella history. Analyzing 70,226 questionnaires, varicella was reported in 63.6% and 78.6% of 1st and 6th grade children, respectively (mean age 4.75 years), indicating that a quarter of children entering adolescence are susceptible. Children attending day care and children with older siblings had contracted chickenpox at a younger age. In conclusion, in Greece, in addition to introducing universal varicella vaccination, it is necessary to identify older children at risk and offer catch-up vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Second Pediatric Clinic, Agia Sophia Children's Hospital, Goudi, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsafadou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferentinos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Constantopoulos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papaevangelou
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires