BMJ 2002;324:609 ( 9 March )

Letters

Deaths from chickenpox

    Deaths from chickenpox in adults are decreasing
    Epidemiology of chickenpox in United Kingdom needs further investigation
    Healthcare workers should not be forgotten
    Chickenpox associated morbidity may be long term
    Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has important role

Deaths from chickenpox in adults are decreasing

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR---On the basis of death certificates from the Office for National Statistics from 1995 to 1997, Rawson et al conclude that deaths as a result of chickenpox are increasing in adults in England and Wales.1 More up to date figures from the Office for National Statistics, however, show that chickenpox mortality is decreasing in adults (from 32 deaths in 1996 to 18 in 2000---see figure (a)). Furthermore, the number of deaths from chickenpox and case fatality rates were significantly higher in 1995-7 (period of the analysis) than at any other period. The claim by Rawson et al that deaths in adults are rising is therefore misleading.


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The change in age related varicella mortality is the result of a shift in the age distribution of infection. Over the past two decades there has been an increase in cases in the youngest age group (possibly due to greater attendance of day-care).2-4 Over the same time period . . . [Full text of this article]
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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Lowe, G L, Salmon, R L, Thomas, D R., Evans, M R (2004). Declining incidence of chickenpox in the absence of universal childhood immunisation. Arch. Dis. Child. 89: 966-969 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Mohsen, A.H., McKendrick, M. (2003). Varicella pneumonia in adults. Eur Respir J 21: 886-891 [Abstract] [Full text]  

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Deaths from chickenpox in adults
Norman Noah, et al.
bmj.com, 17 Apr 2002 [Full text]
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