Seroepidemiology of varicella‐zoster virus and reliability of varicella history in Turkish children, adolescents and adults

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the age specific varicella-zoster virus (VZV) seroprevalence in Izmir, Turkey and to determine the reliability of a history of varicella to detect susceptible children, adolescents and adults. A questionnaire, including previous history of varicella, was completed for each participant and, in 590 of them, VZV-specific IgG was measured using an ELISA test. Overall, 28.5% of individuals were seronegative for VZV. By 5 years of age, only 25.5% of children were seropositive for VZV. Among adolescents and young adults, 18.8% and 11.7% were seronegative, respectively. The negative predictive value was 57.8%, decreasing with age (81.9% in children, 34.5% in adolescents and 8.3% in adults). In conclusion, a negative history of varicella is not a reliable predictor of varicella antibody status in adolescents and young adults. Serological testing before immunisation will be logical, rather than presumptive vaccination, for adolescents and adults with negative history of varicella.

The epidemiology and economic impact of varicella-related hospitalizations in Turkey from 2008 to 2010: a nationwide survey during the pre-vaccine era (VARICOMP study)

“…The demographic features of our study population were similar; the median age of hospitalization was 3 years, with boys somewhat more likely to be hospitalized. Our incidence results according to age groups are compatible with those of seroepidemiological studies that have been performed in Turkey; more than 90% of children have been infected with varicella by the time they are 15 years of age [2,21,23]. Data from European countries suggest that approximately 1% of varicella cases require hospitalization and 0.1% of varicella cases are associated with complications [39].…”

“…Knowledge about the cause and incidence of varicella-related hospitalizations in Turkey is limited, center-specific, and not sufficiently accurate. Varicella are common among children in Turkey, and the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) seroprevalence increases with age in children and among adolescents and young adults (18.8% and 11.7% seronegative, respectively) [23].…”

Seroprevalence and social determinants of varicella in Turkey

“…Varicella seroprevalence among school children aged 7-15 years residing in Manisa was 61.6% in 2009-2010 (14). In a 2010 study of people aged 1-80 years in Izmir, which is a neighbouring province of Manisa, varicella seroprevalence was 71.5% (15) (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). According to these results, which are consistent with the current study, varicella is common in the Turkish population and the seroprevalence increases with age, with a peak incidence in childhood.…”

Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesine başvuran hastalarda Varisella Zoster Virüs serolojik test sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi

“…Suçiçeği epidemiyolojisi ile ilgili kapsamlı bir çalışmada, dokuz ilde randomize seçilen 4800 kişide, 30 yaş altı olanlarda seroprevalans %77.8 olarak saptanmıştır (4) . İzmir'de aşı öncesi yapılan iki farklı çalışmada, VZV seroprevalans oranları %71.5 ve %94.3 olarak belirlenmiştir (5,6) . Erzurum'da yapılan bir diğer çalışmada, 30 yaş altı kişilerde seroprevalans %78, Manisa ilinde yapılan bir diğer çalış-mada, 7-15 yaş arasında VZV IgG pozitiflik oranı %61.6, Ankara'da adolasanlarda yapılan çalışmada, %55.7 ve Adana'da ilk öğretim öğrencilerinde %78 olarak bulunmuştur (7)(8)(9) .…”