Epidemiological characteristics of varicella from 2000 to 2008 and the impact of nationwide immunization in Taiwan
Journal
BMC Infectious Diseases
Journal Volume
11
Pages
352
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Varicella has an important impact on public health. Starting in 2004 in Taiwan, nationwide free varicella vaccinations were given to 1-year-old children.Methods: Our study investigated the epidemiological characteristics of varicella from 2000 to 2008, and assessed the change of varicella epidemiology after the mass varicella immunization. ICD-9-CM codes related to varicella or chickenpox (052, 052.1, 052.2, 052.7, 052.8, 052.9) were analyzed for all young people under 20 years of age through the National Health Insurance database of Taiwan from 2000 to 2008.Results: Case numbers of varicella or chickenpox significantly declined after the nationwide immunization in 2004. Winter, particularly January, was the epidemic season of varicella. We found a significant post-vaccination decrease in incidence among preschool children, especially 3 to 6 year-old children-- the peak incidence was 66 per thousand for 4 and 5 year-old children before the nationwide immunization (2000 to 2003), and the peak incidence was 23 per thousand for 6 year-old children in 2008 (p < 0.001). Varicella-related hospitalization also significantly decreased in children younger than 6 years after the nationwide immunization.Conclusion: The varicella annual incidence and varicella-related hospitalization markedly declined in preschool children after nationwide varicella immunization in 2004. ? 2011 Chang et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
SDGs
Other Subjects
active immunization; adolescent; adult; age distribution; article; bacteremia; chickenpox; child; encephalitis; female; gastrointestinal hemorrhage; hemoptysis; hepatitis; hospitalization; human; infection prevention; liver necrosis; lower respiratory tract infection; major clinical study; male; mass immunization; preschool child; respiratory failure; Reye syndrome; school child; seasonal variation; septicemia; skin infection; soft tissue infection; Taiwan; immunization; immunology; incidence; infant; Taiwan; utilization review; chickenpox vaccine; Adolescent; Chickenpox; Chickenpox Vaccine; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Immunization; Incidence; Infant; Male; Taiwan; Young Adult
Type
journal article