Susceptibility of New Entrant University students in Sri Lanka to varicella zoster infection.
To investigate the susceptibility of Sri Lankan new entry university students to varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among new entrant medical and engineering students of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Self-reported history of chicken pox was studied first, followed by serological evaluation for VZV IgG antibodies. A total of 451 students participated in the study out of which 189 (41.9%) reported a history of chicken pox. Median age of reported age of acquiring the disease was 14 years with an interquartile range of 10 to 17 years. Only 25% of the population reported history of infection prior to age of 10 years. The seropositive rate of VZV IgG antibodies among undergraduates with a negative history of chicken pox was 10.1% ( 25/247). The present study indicates that nearly half (222/436) of the study population (50.9%, 95% CI 46.2-55.6) was susceptible to VZV infection.
Departments of Microbiology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
G M P C P
GM
Kurukulasooriya
V
V
Thevanesam
S B
SB
Agampodi
A M S B
AM
Abeykoon
S P
SP
Amarasiri
K P C
KP
Goonasekera
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G