RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To determine the morbidity and mortality patterns of varicella and risk factors affecting its outcome, and the facilities available at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Sri Lanka. METHODS: A retrospective study on all patients admitted with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection to the IDH from August 2000 to July 2001. Data were collected from the hospital records. RESULTS: Among the 1690 patients admitted during the study period, 1090 (64.9%) were due to VZV infection. Nine hundred and eighty nine (90.7%) had varicella and 101 (9.3%) herpes zoster. Common complications were secondary bacterial infection (62.1%), neurological complications (3.4%), pneumonia (9.1%) and carditis (1.01%). They were significantly commoner in patients with coexisting diseases. Hospital stay was significantly shorter in patients who received early aciclovir, which was not available on a regular basis. Forty one patients died and mortality was highest in the elderly. The commonest cause of death was pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Varicella related complications are high in patients with coexisting diseases. Mortality rates are higher than reported elsewhere. Health care facilities available at IDH are quite inadequate, and should be improved.