Onset of adult varicella in relation to rural or urban origin and its complications.
OBJECTIVE
To determine area of origin of adult varicella patients, whether rural or urban, to compare the mean interval between leaving the area of origin and onset of varicella in adults of rural origin in comparison with those of urban origin and to observe its complications.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad, from January to December 2006.


METHODS
All patients over the age of 18 years, presenting with acute illness clinically, suggestive of varicella were included in the study. A specially designed proforma was filled for each patient separately, which included demographic features as well as area of origin, whether rural or urban, and the age at which they left the area of origin. These patients were examined, treated and assessed clinically on regular basis for the progress of the disease as well as for its possible local or systemic complications. Data analysis was done by using statistical programme SPSS-10.


RESULTS
Out of 9155 adult patients, 156 (1.70%) had varicella, including 128 (82.1%) males and 28 (17.9%) females. Origin was rural in 125 (80.1%) and urban in 31 (19.9%) patients. Mean interval between leaving area of origin and developing varicella in those of rural origin was 01.79+/-01.78 years and that in patients of urban origin was 03.37+/-05.72 years (p+/-0.009). None of the patients developed any complication of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Varicella in adults is generally a benign illness. It is more common among adult males of rural origin and the interval between leaving the area of origin and onset of varicella in these patients is significantly less as compared to that in adults of urban origin.
Raza
Naeem
N
Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad. naeemraza561@hotmail.com
Tariq
Waheed-Uz- Zaman
WU
Zaidi
Sabeen Khurshid
SK
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population