The epidemiology of chickenpox in UK 5-year olds: An analysis to inform vaccine policy

Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster virus infection in the first two years of life: a cohort study in Bradford, UK

“…Our VZV estimates are similar to those from previous UK studies [18, 24]. In the Millennium Cohort Study, children from other ethnic groups were less likely to have had chickenpox by age 3 years than white children, based on maternal report, similar to our findings [18].…”

“…In the Millennium Cohort Study, children from other ethnic groups were less likely to have had chickenpox by age 3 years than white children, based on maternal report, similar to our findings [18]. There is good evidence that VZV seroprevalence in the UK is lower among pregnant women born in Asia than those born in the UK [13, 25], due to later age at infection in many tropical countries compared to the UK.…”

“…Potential confounders are factors which influence exposure to infection via contact with the mother, siblings and others, especially children: birth order [15], breastfeeding [16, 17], household size/composition [15], childcare [18, 19], bedroom sharing [20, 21] and attendance at mother/baby activities [20]. We also considered socio-economic indicators (maternal education, home ownership) which may act as proxies for exposure to infection [11, 22].…”

Trends and socioeconomic disparities in preadolescent's health in the UK: evidence from two birth cohorts 32 years apart

“…Immunisation21 and reduction in infectious diseases may also explain the decreasing prevalence of hearing problems in preadolescents, as infectious diseases are the leading causes of acquired hearing loss 22. However, chicken pox increased rather than decreased across the study period, consistent with other reports which attributed this increase to lack of widespread use of varicella vaccines in the UK and increased use of formal child care and the opportunity this provides to mix with infected children 23 24. Improved management and or earlier detection of problems likely explains reductions in having a stutter or stammer 25…”

Should the UK introduce a universal childhood varicella vaccination programme?

“…Primary varicella infection (chickenpox) is common in the UK with over three-quarters of parents reporting a history of chickenpox in their children by 5 years of age 1. Following primary infection, the varicella zoster virus (VZV) remains dormant in the dorsal root ganglia and reactivates in later life following a decline in cell-mediated immunity to cause herpes zoster or shingles (HZ).…”