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Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 2019Although varicella is usually a mild and self-limited disease, complications can occur. In 1998, the World Health Organization recommended varicella vaccination for... (Review)
Review
Although varicella is usually a mild and self-limited disease, complications can occur. In 1998, the World Health Organization recommended varicella vaccination for countries where the disease has a significant public health burden. Nonetheless, concerns about a shift in the disease to older groups, an increase in herpes zoster in the elderly and cost-effectiveness led many countries to postpone universal varicella vaccine introduction. In this review, we summarize the accumulating evidence, available mostly from high and middle-income countries supporting a high impact of universal vaccination in reductions of the incidence of the disease and hospitalizations and its cost-effectiveness. We have also observed the effect of herd immunity and noted that there is no definitive and consistent association between vaccination and the increase in herpes zoster incidence in the elderly.
Topics: Aged; Chickenpox; Chickenpox Vaccine; Child; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Global Health; Herpes Zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Hospitalization; Humans; Immunization Programs; Incidence
PubMed: 30427766
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1546525 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jul 1996Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous human alphaherpesvirus that causes varicella (chicken pox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella is a common childhood... (Review)
Review
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous human alphaherpesvirus that causes varicella (chicken pox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella is a common childhood illness, characterized by fever, viremia, and scattered vesicular lesions of the skin. As is characteristic of the alphaherpesviruses, VZV establishes latency in cells of the dorsal root ganglia. Herpes zoster, caused by VZV reactivation, is a localized, painful, vesicular rash involving one or adjacent dermatomes. The incidence of herpes zoster increases with age or immunosuppression. The VZV virion consists of a nucleocapsid surrounding a core that contains the linear, double-stranded DNA genome; a protein tegument separates the capsid from the lipid envelope, which incorporates the major viral glycoproteins. VZV is found in a worldwide geographic distribution but is more prevalent in temperate climates. Primary VZV infection elicits immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA antibodies, which bind to many classes of viral proteins. Virus-specific cellular immunity is critical for controlling viral replication in healthy and immunocompromised patients with primary or recurrent VZV infections. Rapid laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis of varicella or herpes zoster, which can be accomplished by detecting viral proteins or DNA, is important to determine the need for antiviral therapy. Acyclovir is licensed for treatment of varicella and herpes zoster, and acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir are approved for herpes zoster. Passive antibody prophylaxis with varicella-zoster immune globulin is indicated for susceptible high-risk patients exposed to varicella. A live attenuated varicella vaccine (Oka/Merck strain) is now recommended for routine childhood immunization.
Topics: Acyclovir; Antibody Formation; Antiviral Agents; Chickenpox; Contraindications; Herpes Zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunization, Passive; Serology; Vaccination; Vaccines, Attenuated
PubMed: 8809466
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.9.3.361 -
The New Microbiologica Apr 2018Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of varicella (chicken pox), a childhood exanthematic disease that develops as a result of primary infection, and... (Review)
Review
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is the etiologic agent of varicella (chicken pox), a childhood exanthematic disease that develops as a result of primary infection, and zoster (shingles), caused by reactivation of the virus persisting in a latent form in the dorsal sensory ganglia. Although varicella is generally a mild self-limiting illness, in immunocompromised subjects and adults it can have a serious clinical course that can lead to permanent damage of the central nervous system. In these and in most zoster cases, treatment with anti-herpetic drugs and/or immunotherapy is necessary. Because it is highly contagious, varicella is one of the most common exanthematic diseases. It is preventable by vaccination with an attenuated vaccine administered around the first year of age, and with a boost vaccination in school age. This article briefly describes the natural history and pathophysiology of VZV infection and its current epidemiology and provides an overview of current and future vaccine options to protect against varicella and/or zoster.
Topics: Chickenpox; Chickenpox Vaccine; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Vaccination; Vaccines, Attenuated
PubMed: 29498740
DOI: No ID Found -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Oct 2013Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was once thought to be a fairly innocuous pathogen. That view is no longer tenable. The morbidity and mortality due to the primary and... (Review)
Review
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was once thought to be a fairly innocuous pathogen. That view is no longer tenable. The morbidity and mortality due to the primary and secondary diseases that VZV causes, varicella and herpes zoster (HZ), are significant. Fortunately, modern advances, including an available vaccine to prevent varicella, a therapeutic vaccine to diminish the incidence and ameliorate sequelae of HZ, effective antiviral drugs, a better understanding of VZV pathogenesis, and advances in diagnostic virology have made it possible to control VZV in the United States. Occult forms of VZV-induced disease have been recognized, including zoster sine herpete and enteric zoster, which have expanded the field. Future progress should include development of more effective vaccines to prevent HZ and a more complete understanding of the consequences of VZV latency in the enteric nervous system.
Topics: Aged; Antiviral Agents; Chickenpox; Chickenpox Vaccine; Child, Preschool; Clinical Trials as Topic; Herpes Zoster; Herpes Zoster Vaccine; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans; Middle Aged; United States; Vaccines, Attenuated; Virus Activation; Virus Latency
PubMed: 24092852
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00052-13 -
Ugeskrift For Laeger Oct 2021Chickenpox is generally considered a benign childhood disease. However, serious complications may arise. A safe and efficient vaccine is available, and universal... (Review)
Review
Chickenpox is generally considered a benign childhood disease. However, serious complications may arise. A safe and efficient vaccine is available, and universal chickenpox vaccination is already introduced in many countries. Denmark, among other countries, has been reluctant to introduce the vaccine due to insufficient information on disease burden and concerns regarding herpes zoster incidence and a potential age shift. In this review, we present current knowledge regarding the disease burden of chickenpox in Denmark and discuss perspectives on introducing the vaccine in Denmark.
Topics: Chickenpox; Chickenpox Vaccine; Child; Herpes Zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans; Vaccination
PubMed: 34704927
DOI: No ID Found -
Uirusu 2021Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella (chickenpox) as primary infection, and latently infects neuronal cells in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Reactivation of... (Review)
Review
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella (chickenpox) as primary infection, and latently infects neuronal cells in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Reactivation of VZV from DRG results in herpes zoster, often decades later. VZV is the only airborne human herpesvirus and the only herpesvirus whose symptoms (both varicella and herpes zoster) can be prevented by vaccination. Herpes zoster is significantly more common in patients with bone marrow transplants, hematological malignancies, oral Jak inhibitors, SLE, and the elderly. The brand new subunit vaccine, ShingrixⓇ, for preventing herpes zoster is a mixture of adjuvant and recombinant VZV glycoprotein gE, which is highly effective in preventing zoster even in elderly people. In this review, the author discuss the onset mechanism of zoster from the clinical findings and summarize the result of clinical trials of the subunit vaccine.
Topics: Aged; Chickenpox; Herpes Zoster; Herpes Zoster Vaccine; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans; Vaccines, Subunit
PubMed: 35526994
DOI: 10.2222/jsv.71.45 -
Archives of Disease in Childhood Apr 1988A four year old girl presented with varicella gangrenosa, and haematological investigations showed a disseminated intravascular coagulation. The child subsequently...
A four year old girl presented with varicella gangrenosa, and haematological investigations showed a disseminated intravascular coagulation. The child subsequently developed a unilateral deep venous thrombosis. She was treated with oral steroids and intravenous heparin and made a full recovery.
Topics: Chickenpox; Child, Preschool; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; Female; Gangrene; Humans; Purpura; Skin; Thrombophlebitis
PubMed: 3365017
DOI: 10.1136/adc.63.4.444 -
Journal of Korean Medical Science Mar 2019
Topics: Chickenpox; Herpes Zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans
PubMed: 30886553
DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e93 -
International Journal of Infectious... Oct 2021To describe the current panorama of severe chickenpox disease and seroprevalence in Sweden, as a basis for the approaching decision on universal vaccination.
OBJECTIVES
To describe the current panorama of severe chickenpox disease and seroprevalence in Sweden, as a basis for the approaching decision on universal vaccination.
METHODS
Patients discharged with an International Classification of Diseases 10th revision-code for chickenpox (B01-B01.9) in eight pediatric and infectious diseases departments in Stockholm and Gothenburg in 2012-2014 were included in the study and their medical charts were reviewed. Further, residual serum samples collected from 11 laboratories across Sweden were analyzed for varicella zoster IgG-antibodies to investigate age-specific seroprevalence.
RESULTS
A total of 218 children and 46 adults were included in this hospital-based study; 87.2% of children and 63.0% of adults had complications. An underlying condition was not associated with an increased risk of complication. Dehydration (31.7%), bacterial skin infections (29.8%) and neurological involvement (20.6%) were the most frequent complications in children. Among adult cases, 63% were born abroad. The seroepidemiological analysis included 957 patient samples. Seroprevalence was 66.7% at 5 years and 91.5% at 12 years. Infants and adolescents/adults were overrepresented among admitted patients compared to seroprevalence data.
CONCLUSIONS
Half of all complications in hospitalized chickenpox cases were seen in previously healthy children, which supports universal childhood vaccination. Adult migrants was a risk group for chickenpox hospitalization. Age-specific seroprevalence was similar to neighboring countries.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Chickenpox; Chickenpox Vaccine; Child; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Hospitalization; Humans; Infant; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sweden; Vaccination
PubMed: 34380088
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.08.012 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research May 2023Chickenpox is an old but easily neglected infectious disease. Although chickenpox is preventable by vaccines, vaccine breakthroughs often occur, and the chickenpox...
BACKGROUND
Chickenpox is an old but easily neglected infectious disease. Although chickenpox is preventable by vaccines, vaccine breakthroughs often occur, and the chickenpox epidemic is on the rise. Chickenpox is not included in the list of regulated communicable diseases that must be reported and controlled by public and health departments; therefore, it is crucial to rapidly identify and report varicella outbreaks during the early stages. The Baidu index (BDI) can supplement the traditional surveillance system for infectious diseases, such as brucellosis and dengue, in China. The number of reported chickenpox cases and internet search data also showed a similar trend. BDI can be a useful tool to display the outbreak of infectious diseases.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to develop an efficient disease surveillance method that uses BDI to assist in traditional surveillance.
METHODS
Chickenpox incidence data (weekly from January 2017 to June 2021) reported by the Yunnan Province Center for Disease Control and Prevention were obtained to evaluate the relationship between the incidence of chickenpox and BDI. We applied a support vector machine regression (SVR) model and a multiple regression prediction model with BDI to predict the incidence of chickenpox. In addition, we used the SVR model to predict the number of chickenpox cases from June 2021 to the first week of April 2022.
RESULTS
The analysis showed that there was a close correlation between the weekly number of newly diagnosed cases and the BDI. In the search terms we collected, the highest Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.747. Most BDI search terms, such as "chickenpox," "chickenpox treatment," "treatment of chickenpox," "chickenpox symptoms," and "chickenpox virus," trend consistently. Some BDI search terms, such as "chickenpox pictures," "symptoms of chickenpox," "chickenpox vaccine," and "is chickenpox vaccine necessary," appeared earlier than the trend of "chickenpox virus." The 2 models were compared, the SVR model performed better in all the applied measurements: fitting effect, R=0.9108, root mean square error (RMSE)=96.2995, and mean absolute error (MAE)=73.3988; and prediction effect, R=0.548, RMSE=189.1807, and MAE=147.5412. In addition, we applied the SVR model to predict the number of reported cases weekly in Yunnan from June 2021 to April 2022 using the same period of the BDI. The results showed that the fluctuation of the time series from July 2021 to April 2022 was similar to that of the last year and a half with no change in the level of prevention and control.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicated that the BDI in Yunnan Province can predict the incidence of chickenpox in the same period. Thus, the BDI is a useful tool for monitoring the chickenpox epidemic and for complementing traditional monitoring systems.
Topics: Humans; Chickenpox; Chickenpox Vaccine; China; Disease Outbreaks; Incidence; Infodemiology; Support Vector Machine; Sentinel Surveillance
PubMed: 37191983
DOI: 10.2196/44186