Varicella-zoster virus infection in Australia

被引:41
作者
Chant, KG
Sullivan, EA
Burgess, MA
Ferson, MJ
Forrest, JM
Baird, LM
Tudehope, DI
Tilse, M
机构
[1] SW Sydney Publ Hlth Unit, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
[2] SW Sydney Area Hlth Serv, Epidemiol Unit, Sydney, NSW, Australia
[3] New Childrens Hosp, Australian Ctr Immunisat Res, Sydney, NSW, Australia
[4] SE Sydney Publ Hlth Unit, Sydney, NSW, Australia
[5] New Childrens Hosp, Australian Ctr Immunisat Res, Sydney, NSW, Australia
[6] Mater Misericordiae Mothers Hosp, S Brisbane, Qld, Australia
关键词
D O I
10.1111/j.1467-842X.1998.tb01405.x
中图分类号
R1 [预防医学、卫生学];
学科分类号
1004 ; 120402 ;
摘要
Objective: To determine the epidemiology of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection in Australia using currently available data sources. Design: Analysis of national death data (23 years), congenital and neonatal cases (one year) and attendances at sentinel general practices (two years); hospital admissions in NSW and SA (six years); serological studies in 1995 involving antenatal clinics in Sydney and Brisbane and child-care centre staff and refugees in Sydney: and case-ascertainment in 1995 in South Western Sydney among public hospital staff, childcare centre staff and the community. Results: In Australia, there have been an average of 3.5 deaths from chickenpox (mostly children) and 11 from herpes zoster (mostly older people) each year since 1980. The crude death rate for chickenpox has declined (p>0.05). In 1995, there were 14 cases of neonatal and two of congenital varicella. Average annual admission rates for NSW and SA showed 1,200 hospital bed-days used for chickenpox, more than 20% with complications, and more that 7,300 bed days for zoster; annually more that 880 in-patient admissions were complicated by VZV. Most people encounter the virus in their first 15 years, but some remain susceptible into their 20s; 25% of cases and 37% of hospital admissions for chickenpox occur in people greater than or equal to 15 years of age. Conclusion: VZV infection involves people of all ages. It causes substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly at the extremes of life. The death rate from chickenpox but not zoster has fallen since the introduction of acyclovir in the 1980s. Surveillance of VZV infection must be given priority once vaccines become available, to monitor changes in morbidity and mortality.
引用
收藏
页码:413 / 418
页数:6
相关论文
共 21 条
[1]  
[Anonymous], 1996, MMWR Recomm Rep, V45, P1
[2]  
ASANO Y, 1994, PEDIATRICS, V94, P524
[3]   VARICELLA-ZOSTER VACCINE [J].
BOUGHTON, CR .
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 1993, 159 (07) :439-440
[4]  
*CDC, 1984, MMWR-MORBID MORTAL W, V33, P84
[5]   RARE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE [J].
ELLIOTT, EJ ;
CHANT, KG .
JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, 1994, 30 (06) :463-465
[6]   CONSEQUENCES OF VARICELLA AND HERPES-ZOSTER IN PREGNANCY - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 1739 CASES [J].
ENDERS, G ;
MILLER, E ;
CRADOCKWATSON, J ;
BOLLEY, I ;
RIDEHALGH, M .
LANCET, 1994, 343 (8912) :1548-1551
[7]   Varicella-Zoster virus epidemiology - A changing scene? [J].
Fairley, CK ;
Miller, E .
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, 1996, 174 :S314-S319
[8]  
FELDMAN S, 1987, PEDIATRICS, V80, P465
[9]   ANOTHER VACCINE, ANOTHER TREADMILL [J].
FERSON, MJ .
JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, 1995, 31 (01) :3-5
[10]   DETERMINATION AND IMPORTANCE OF VARICELLA IMMUNE STATUS OF NURSING STAFF IN A CHILDRENS HOSPITAL [J].
FERSON, MJ ;
BELL, SM ;
ROBERTSON, PW .
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION, 1990, 15 (04) :347-351