title: Seroprevalence of varicella-zoster virus infection in children from Cochabamba: tropical or temperate pattern?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the seroprevalence of varicella-zoster viral (VZV) infections in schoolchildren from the Cochabamba region (Bolivia), and its association with socio-demographic variables, socio-economic status and geographical location.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seroepidemiological survey (n = 436) on VZV of schoolchildren living in the Cochabamba region of Bolivia in 2010. An ELISA test was used to measure varicella antibodies. Parents or guardians completed a questionnaire regarding socio-demographic information (age, gender, living area, parental educational level, presence of siblings and number of family members in the household), and a blood sample was collected from each child to check for VZV antibodies. A descriptive and bivariate analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The global prevalence of VZV was 78.2% (95% CI 74.3-82.1). It was higher in females (82.1%), pre-adolescents (aged 10.1-13 years: 81.4%) and adolescents (aged >13 years: 80.2%), in children with less well-educated parents (81.3% to 81.6%), in warmer municipalities (81.4% to 82.2%), in rural areas (80.0%), in children with siblings (80.1%), those who although the latter association was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of VZV infection in childhood was relatively high for a tropical country, and much closer to that of temperate countries prior to the introduction of varicella vaccine into vaccination programmes.
authors.affiliation: International Health Center and Travel Medicine Clinic, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Bellvitge, Spain. cmasuet@bellvitgehospital.cat
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masuet-Aumatell
authors.forename: Josep Ma
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramon-Torrell
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casanova-Rituerto
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banqué-Navarro
authors.forename: María Del Rosario
authors.initials: Mdel R
authors.lastname: Dávalos-Gamboa
authors.forename: Sandra Lucía
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Montaño-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014611:Vaccination