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Herpes zoster in a partially vaccinated pediatric population in central Israel.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study was performed during an era of partial vaccination with varicella vaccine in Israel to characterize ambulatory pediatric herpes zoster (HZ) cases in a population with partial varicella vaccination coverage.
METHODS
Data were collected from computerized databases of a population of 114,000 children. Records of children aged 0-18 years, diagnosed with HZ during 2006 to 2008 were reviewed by pediatric infectious diseases experts. Telephone interviews were done with a sample of the parents to get further clinical details.
RESULTS
Of 692 medical records reviewed, 450 cases were approved for analysis, and 77 interviews were conducted. Incidence of HZ was 130 of 100,000 person life-years. Peak incidence was detected in children aged 9-11 years (222/100,000 person life-years). Pain and fever accompanied 52% and 13% of episodes, respectively. Higher risk for HZ was found in children who had varicella during their first year of life (relative risk and 95% confidence interval: 13.5[9.6-18.8]; P < 0.001), and in children who had varicella during the second year of life (relative risk = 2 [1.5-2.6]; P < 0.001). Vaccination was found to be protective against HZ (relative risk = 0.42 [0.33-0.55]; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The epidemiology of HZ seems to be changing in a population with partial varicella vaccination rate. Our results may suggest that children who contracted chicken pox in their first year of life may benefit from varicella vaccination.

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  • Publisher Full Text

    • Authors

    Stein M, Cohen R, Bromberg M, Tasher D, Shohat T, Somekh E

    Institution

    Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, the Edith Wolfson Medical Center, P.O. Box 5, Holon, Israel 58100.

    Source

    The Pediatric infectious disease journal 31:9 2012 Sep pg 906-9

    MeSH

    Acyclovir
    Adolescent
    Antiviral Agents
    Chi-Square Distribution
    Chickenpox Vaccine
    Child
    Child, Preschool
    Exanthema
    Female
    Herpes Zoster
    Humans
    Incidence
    Infant
    Interviews as Topic
    Israel
    Male
    Retrospective Studies
    Vaccination

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22627868