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Chickenpox increasingly affects preschool children
1DFleming@rcgp-bru.demon.co.uk
Insights
Chickenpox incidence doubled in young children and decreased in older age groups between 1983 and 1998. This age shift suggests increased social contact among preschoolers may be influencing chickenpox transmission patterns.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Transmission
Background:
- Chickenpox (varicella) is a common viral infection.
- Understanding age-specific incidence trends is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze changes in age-specific chickenpox incidence rates.
- To investigate potential factors contributing to observed epidemiological shifts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Royal College of General Practitioners Weekly Returns Service.
- Analyzed consultations for chickenpox between 1983 and 1998.
- Calculated age-specific incidence rates for different demographic groups.
Main Results:
- Incidence in children aged 0-4 years doubled.
- Incidence in children aged 5-14 years halved.
- Incidence in adults aged 15-44 years decreased by nearly one-third.
Conclusions:
- Observed a significant downward shift in the age of chickenpox contraction.
- Increased social interaction among preschool children is a potential driver for this trend.
- Further research into social contact patterns and varicella epidemiology is warranted.
Abstract:
Between 1983 and 1998, age specific incidences of chickenpox derived from consultations with general practitioners taking part in the Royal College of General Practitioners Weekly Returns Service doubled in children aged 0 to 4 years, halved in children aged 5 to 14 years, and fell by almost a third in adults aged 15 to 44 years. This downward shift in age of contracting chickenpox may be a result of increased social contact between preschool children.