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a Department
of Pediatrics, University of Bern, Inselspital, CH-3010 Bern,
Switzerland, b Institute for Medical
Microbiology, University of Bern, c Wildermeth
Children's Hospital, CH-2502 Biel, Switzerland
Correspondence to: Dr Aebi. email: christoph.aebi{at}insel.ch
Accepted 6 August 1998
AIMS
To describe complications of varicella
requiring hospitalisation in a defined population (canton of Bern) and
to compare the hospitalisation rates for varicella with published data.
METHODSRetrospective analysis of hospital records
of patients less than 16 years of age admitted with complications of
varicella to the hospitals serving this population (University
Children's Hospital of Bern and the Wildermeth Children's Hospital of
Biel, Switzerland), and calculation of hospitalisation rates for
varicella and its complications based on birth rates and varicella
antibody prevalence rates.
RESULTSFrom 1986 to 1996, 113 cases (median age,
5.6 years) were identified. Younger siblings were overrepresented (odds
ratio (OR), 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09 to 1.84). Central
nervous system (CNS) complications (26 patients; 23%) were found
predominantly in previously healthy children (relative risk, 7.1; 95%
CI, 1.01 to 49.86). Group A 
haemolytic streptococci were recovered
from only one of 35 patients with bacterial complications. The
hospitalisation rates for primary varicella (9.2/104 cases;
95% CI, 7.4 to 11/104), skin infections
(2.0/104 cases; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.9/104), and
pneumonia (0.8/104 cases; 95% CI, 0.3 to
1.3/104) were significantly lower than reported previously.
The CNS complication rate (2.2/104 cases; 95% CI, 1.3 to
3.1/104) was among the highest rates reported.
CONCLUSIONSThe low hospitalisation rate in
comparison with studies from elsewhere indicates that there is a large
regional variability in complications associated with varicella. Such
data should be taken into consideration when local varicella
immunisation strategies are developed.
This article has been cited by other articles:
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  C. Ziebold, R. von Kries, R. Lang, J. Weigl, and H. J. Schmitt Severe Complications of Varicella in Previously Healthy Children in Germany: A 1-Year Survey Pediatrics, November 1, 2001; 108(5): e79 - 79. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 N. J A Webb, M. M Fitzpatrick, D. A Hughes, T. J Brocklebank, B. A Judd, M. A Lewis, R. J Postlethwaite, P. A Smith, and G. Corbitt Immunisation against varicella in end stage and pre-end stage renal failure Arch. Dis. Child., February 1, 2000; 82(2): 141 - 143. [Abstract] [Full Text]
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C. AEBI Varicella: to vaccinate or not vaccinate? Arch. Dis. Child., September 1, 1999; 81(3): 278e - 278. [Full Text]
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A. GERSHON Varicella: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate? Arch. Dis. Child., December 1, 1998; 79(6): 470 - 471. [Full Text]
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