Hospitalizaciones por varicela en el Hospital Infantil La Fe (Valencia 2001-2004) / Hospitalizations for varicella in the Hospital Infantil La Fe, Valencia,Spain, 2001-2004

Introducción: La varicela es una enfermedad frecuente, muy contagiosa y por lo general benigna, pero con complicaciones potencialmente graves. Pacientes y métodos: Se revisan las historias clínicas de los niños hospitalizados por esta enfermedad entre 2001 y 2004 para evaluar las características clínicas y el coste que lleva consigo la hospitalización. Se excluyen los casos que presentaron varicela durante la hospitalización y que ingresaron por otros motivos. Resultados: De los 1.177 niños que fueron atendidos por varicela en urgencias, 101 fueron hospitalizados (8,6 %). La edad mediana fue de 3,2 años (21 días a 18,9 años). Veintiocho niños tenían enfermedad subyacente. Treinta y siete casos no presentaron complicaciones y el motivo de ingreso fue: a) riesgo de desarrollar varicela grave (21 niños con enfermedad de base y 3 neonatos), o b) tenían fiebre alta o afectación del estado general (13 niños). Los 64 niños restantes ingresaron por 66 complicaciones. La complicación más frecuente fue la infección de piel y tejidos blandos (33 casos) y su causa más habitual Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 13) y Streptococcus aureus (n = 10) que se aislaron en sangre o en el lugar de la infección. Otras fueron neumonía (13 niños), complicaciones neurológicas (9 niños con convulsiones febriles, dos meningoencefalitis, una encefalomielitis diseminada aguda, una cerebelitis), hematológicas (una neutropenia, una púrpura de Schönlein-Henoch y tres púrpuras trombocitopénicas) y osteoarticulares (una sinovitis, una artritis séptica). Una paciente falleció por insuficiencia multiorgánica. Durante el período de estudio el número de niños atendidos en urgencias por varicela se duplicó y el de ingresos por complicaciones se triplicó. La duración media de la hospitalización fue de 6,8 días (1-28 días) y el coste total asociado fue de 397.314,14 1, excluyendo el tratamiento sintomático. Conclusiones: La elevada morbilidad de la varicela y sus complicaciones y el elevado coste social apoyan la instauración universal de la vacuna, la cual reduciría el número total de casos, su gravedad, los gastos directos, generados por el cuidado médico y los gastos indirectos, relacionados con la enfermedad y hospitalización

Introduction: Varicella is a common, highly contagious disease. It is usually benign but has potentially serious complications. Patients and methods: To assess the clinical characteristics and the associated cost of varicella hospitalization, we reviewed the medical records of children hospitalized for varicella between 2001 and 2004. Children with coincidental varicella hospitalized for a different reason were excluded. Results: Of 1177 children with varicella attended at the emergency room, 101 (8.6 %) were hospitalized. The median age was 3.2 years (21 days to 18.9 years). Twenty-eight children had underlying disease. Thirty-seven children had no complications and the reason for admission was: a) risk of severe varicella (21 immunocompromised children, three neonates), and b) high fever or observation (13 cases). The 64 remaining children were admitted for 66 complications of varicella. The most common complications were skin/soft tissue infections (33 patients) and the leading cause was Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 13) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 10) isolated in blood or the site of infection. Other complications were pneumonia (13 children), neurological (febrile seizures in nine, meningoencephalitis in two, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in one, cerebellitis in one), hematological (neutropenia in one, Henoch-Schönlein purpura in one and thrombopenic purpura in three) and osteoarticular (synovitis in one and septic arthritis in one). One patient died of multiorgan failure. During the study period, the rate of emergency room visits due to varicella doubled and the number of admissions for complications tripled. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.8 days (range: 1-28 days) and the total associated cost was 397,314.14 3, excluding symptomatic treatment. Conclusions: The high morbidity associated with varicella and its complications, as well as the high social costs of this disease, support the implementation of routine varicella vaccination. This could reduce the total number of cases, their severity, direct costs, generated by medical care, and indirect costs, generated by the disease and hospitalization

[Hospitalizations for varicella in the Hospital Infantil La Fe, Valencia,Spain, 2001-2004]. / Hospitalizaciones por varicela en el Hospital Infantil La Fe (Valencia 2001-2004).

INTRODUCTION: Varicella is a common, highly contagious disease. It is usually benign but has potentially serious complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To assess the clinical characteristics and the associated cost of varicella hospitalization, we reviewed the medical records of children hospitalized for varicella between 2001 and 2004. Children with coincidental varicella hospitalized for a different reason were excluded. RESULTS: Of 1177 children with varicella attended at the emergency room, 101 (8.6 %) were hospitalized. The median age was 3.2 years (21 days to 18.9 years). Twenty-eight children had underlying disease. Thirty-seven children had no complications and the reason for admission was: a) risk of severe varicella (21 immunocompromised children, three neonates), and b) high fever or observation (13 cases). The 64 remaining children were admitted for 66 complications of varicella. The most common complications were skin/soft tissue infections (33 patients) and the leading cause was Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 13) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 10) isolated in blood or the site of infection. Other complications were pneumonia (13 children), neurological (febrile seizures in nine, meningoencephalitis in two, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in one, cerebellitis in one), hematological (neutropenia in one, Henoch-Schönlein purpura in one and thrombopenic purpura in three) and osteoarticular (synovitis in one and septic arthritis in one). One patient died of multiorgan failure. During the study period, the rate of emergency room visits due to varicella doubled and the number of admissions for complications tripled. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.8 days (range: 1-28 days) and the total associated cost was 397,314.14 Euro, excluding symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The high morbidity associated with varicella and its complications, as well as the high social costs of this disease, support the implementation of routine varicella vaccination. This could reduce the total number of cases, their severity, direct costs, generated by medical care, and indirect costs, generated by the disease and hospitalization.