Varicella-related deaths among adults - United States, 1997

Article Abstract:

All preschool children and all susceptible adults should be vaccinated against chickenpox. Three adult women died in 1997 from chickenpox acquired from unvaccinated children. Although the chickenpox vaccine was licensed in 1995, a survey of three regions of the US reveal that the percentage of two-year-olds who received the vaccine ranged from zero to 20%. Children between the ages of 12 and 18 months should be vaccinated as well as all susceptible people 13 years and older. Most US adults are naturally immune to chickenpox, so the number of susceptible adults should be relatively small.

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Varicella-related deaths among children - United States, 1997

Article Abstract:

Three case reports illustrate that children can still die from chickenpox. All three deaths occurred in Texas and all involved children who had not been vaccinated against chickenpox. Although chickenpox is usually benign, it can cause complications, most often bacterial infections and pneumonia. It can also increase the risk of contracting group A Streptococci. Between 1988 and 1995, about 10,000 children were hospitalized each year for severe chickenpox or its complications. The vaccine is extremely effective in preventing the disease and its complications.

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