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Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
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Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

Published on: July 9, 2014

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Clinical characteristics and cost of chickenpox hospitalization in Thai children

Warunee Punpanich Vandepitte, Siriluk Chanveerachai, Suchada Srisarang

    Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet
    |November 14, 2014
    PubMed

    Insights

    Severe chickenpox (Varicella-Zoster Virus) in hospitalized Thai children often leads to complications and significant healthcare costs. This study highlights the underappreciated burden of severe varicella in children, emphasizing the need for better prevention strategies.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
    • Virology
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • Primary Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) infection, or chickenpox, can cause severe illness in immunocompromised children and infants.
    • Limited data exists on the clinical features, outcomes, and financial impact of severe varicella requiring hospitalization in Thai children.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine the clinical characteristics of hospitalized chickenpox cases in children.
    • To assess disease severity, complication rates, case fatality, and healthcare resource utilization, including length of stay and direct medical costs.

    Main Methods:

    • A retrospective descriptive study analyzed 101 children (1 month to 18 years) hospitalized with chickenpox from 2007-2011 in Bangkok, Thailand.
    • Data on clinical manifestations, complications, outcomes, and hospital charges were collected from medical records and financial databases.

    Main Results:

    • Of 101 cases, 34.7% had predisposing conditions for severe varicella. 73.3% developed complications, most commonly skin/soft tissue infections (50.5%), pneumonia (12.7%), and neurological issues (6.4%).
    • No fatalities were recorded. Median hospitalization was 6 days, with median charges of US$330.2. Children with predisposing conditions had significantly longer hospital stays and higher costs.

    Conclusions:

    • The high rate of varicella complications and associated financial burden in hospitalized children may be underestimated.
    • This study provides crucial insights into the burden of hospitalized varicella, affecting both healthy children and those with underlying immunosuppression.
    Abstract

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