Time trends in pediatric Herpes zoster hospitalization rate after Varicella immunization.
Herpes zoster (HZ) is an emerging concern for public health officials. The aim of this study was to determine whether universal Varicella immunization implemented in 2004 had an impact on HZ hospitalization in immunocompetent children in Greece. All HZ hospitalizations were recorded during the period 1999-2011. The overall attributable hospitalization rate was 13.89 cases/1000 hospital admissions (95%CI: 11.69-16.38 cases/1000 hospital admissions). HZ hospitalization rate remained unchanged during the study period. These data provide a basis for monitoring HZ hospitalization rate among children following universal toddler immunization.
First University Department of Pediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
Elena
E
Critselis
First University Department of Pediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
Kalliopi
K
Theodoridou
Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford Medical School, Oxford, UK.
Zoi
Z
Alexopoulou
First University Department of Pediatrics, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
Maria
M
Theodoridou
Third University Department of Pediatrics, General University Hospital "Attikon", National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
Vassiliki
V
Papaevangelou
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000379:methods*; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D022283:Herpesvirus Vaccines
Children; Herpes zoster; Varicella vaccine; epidemiology; hospitalization