Declining incidence of chickenpox in the absence of universal childhood immunisation

Archives of Disease in Childhood
G L LoweM R Evans

Abstract

To examine the epidemiology of chickenpox in Wales from 1986 to 2001. Descriptive analysis of chickenpox consultations reported by the Welsh general practice sentinel surveillance scheme for infectious diseases, compared with annual shingles consultation rates from the same scheme to exclude reporting fatigue and data from a general practice morbidity database to validate results. A total of 226,884 patients registered with one of 30 volunteer general practices participating in the sentinel surveillance scheme. Age standardised and age specific incidence of chickenpox. Crude and age standardised consultation rates for chickenpox declined from 1986 to 2001, with loss of epidemic cycling. Rates remained stable in 0-4 year olds but declined in all older age groups, particularly those aged 5-14 years. Shingles consultation rates remained constant over the same period. Data from the morbidity database displayed similar trends. General practitioner consultation rates for chickenpox are declining in Wales except in pre-school children. These findings are unlikely to be a reporting artefact but may be explained either by an overall decline in transmission or increased social mixing in those under 5 years old, through formal child care ...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 1996·The Journal of Infectious Diseases·C K Fairley, E Miller
Apr 16, 1998·Obstetrics and Gynecology·J C Glantz, A I Mushlin
Dec 2, 2000·Nature Medicine·J SewardS Schmid
Dec 2, 2000·Nature Medicine·P LaRussaA A Gershon
Mar 29, 2001·The New England Journal of Medicine·M VázquezE D Shapiro
Nov 10, 2001·BMJ : British Medical Journal·H RawsonN Noah
Feb 7, 2002·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Jane F SewardMelinda Wharton
Mar 13, 2002·BMJ : British Medical Journal·A H Mohsen, M W McKendrick

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 21, 2005·Vaccine·M L RussellK Grimsrud
Sep 28, 2010·Vaccine·Gayatri ManikkavasaganHelen Bedford
Mar 25, 2008·The Journal of Infection·E R Miller, H A Kelly
Jul 4, 2009·Médecine et maladies infectieuses·S AlainO Launay
May 20, 2017·BMC Infectious Diseases·Margarita Riera-MontesSusanne Hartwig
Dec 24, 2014·The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association·Noha Saleh, Bassem Al Moghazy

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.