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[Direct costs of complicated chicken pox in a Colombian pediatric population]

Nelson Alvis-Guzmán1, Angel Paternina-Caicedo, Luis Alvis-Estrada

  • 1Grupo de Investigación en Economía de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. nalvis@yahoo.com

Revista De Salud Publica (Bogota, Colombia)
|May 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The economic burden of chicken pox (varicella) in Colombian children is significant, with high average hospital costs. These findings support the introduction of a chicken pox vaccine in Colombia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Health economics
  • Public health policy

Context:

  • Chicken pox (varicella) poses a considerable economic burden on healthcare systems globally.
  • Estimating the direct medical costs of varicella is crucial for informing public health interventions and vaccination policies.

Purpose:

  • To estimate the direct hospital costs associated with chicken pox (varicella) in a pediatric population in Cartagena, Colombia.
  • To provide evidence supporting the economic rationale for introducing a varicella vaccination program in Colombia.

Summary:

  • A retrospective case study analyzed hospital costs for chicken pox patients at a children's hospital in Cartagena, Colombia, from 2005-2008.
  • Micro-costing included expenses for healthcare personnel, laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging, and medications, adjusted for inflation to 2010 Colombian peso prices.
  • Mean hospital costs were substantial, particularly for infants under one year old, indicating a significant economic impact.

Impact:

  • The study highlights that the cost of chicken pox in Colombia is comparable to that in Panama and developed countries.
  • Findings provide evidence supporting the cost-effectiveness of chicken pox vaccination.
  • The results encourage Colombian public health authorities to consider the implementation of a national chicken pox vaccination strategy.
Abstract

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