Abstract |
This study assessed the seroprevalence of varicella antibodies in children and adolescents in Spain and evaluated the reliability of two methods for detecting susceptible individuals: (1) parental-reported history of varicella and (2) medically-documented histories maintained by the pediatrician. A total of 186 children (6 to 15 years of age) were recruited in 13 pediatric offices of Valencia, Spain. A brief case report form was completed including previous history of varicella referred by the parents, and a 5 mL blood sample was obtained. The pediatrician medical file was reviewed for antecedent of varicella. The overall prevalence of varicella antibodies was 84% and 88% in the 6-9 years and 10-15 years age brackets, respectively. The predictive value of a negative history of varicella disease was 48% by parental recall (52% "false negative"), and only 26% by medical record (74% "false negative"). However, the positive predictive value of a positive parental reported history or a positive medically-documented history was 95%. The most effective strategy for varicella vaccination of older children and adolescents in Spain will be to immunize those individuals with a lack of positive (unknown or negative) history of disease.
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Authors | J Diez-Domingo, A Gil, M San-Martín, A González, J Esteban, J M Baldó, M V Planelles, M I Ubeda, M Graullera, A Peris, M Martínez, V Antón, D Gallego, T Alvarez, J V Villarroya, A Jubert, C Casaní, C Peidró, M García, A Ballester |
Journal | Human vaccines
(Hum Vaccin)
2005 Sep-Oct
Vol. 1
Issue 5
Pg. 204-6
ISSN: 1554-8600 [Print] United States |
PMID | 17012857
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Viral
- Chickenpox Vaccine
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Antibodies, Viral
(blood)
- Chickenpox
(blood, epidemiology, immunology)
- Chickenpox Vaccine
(administration & dosage, immunology)
- Child
- Decision Making
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Medical History Taking
- Medical Records
(statistics & numerical data)
- Mental Recall
- Parents
- Reproducibility of Results
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Spain
(epidemiology)
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Time Factors
- Vaccination
(methods)
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