After the Medication Agency withdrew the vaccine in Spain the increase in chickenpox cases was evident and now with data of what has been 2014 in relation to the disease this is confirmed.
The incidence of chickenpox increased by 13.2% in 2014 compared to the previous year According to data from the Carlos III Health Institute. In 2014, 160,956 cases of chickenpox were reported, while the previous year was 142,180. In addition, it must be taken into account that the complications derived from the disease have increased, even with hospitalization.
Despite this increase, the incidence of the disease remains below what is considered epidemic index, according to the bulletin, although, are we in a position to ensure that the cases will not continue to increase?
Recall that the scientific societies of Pediatrics, Vaccination and Preventive Medicine recommend the option of vaccinating chickenpox in two doses, one between 12 and 15 months and another between two and three years. But the Ministry of Health thought that there was an excess of vaccination against this disease before the age of twelve, which is when it should be dispensed according to the official calendar.
But, Why delay the administration of the vaccine to 12 years, when 90% have already occurred in cases of chickenpox? Why not avoid the complications of the disease in young children? The decision of the Ministry of Health to restrict the sale of the drug has been very controversial.
Chickenpox Complications
What worries about this situation is not only the increase in cases of children with the disease, but also the increase in complications. The disease is usually mild, although serious complications sometimes occur.
Adults and older children generally get sicker than younger children. Children under one year of age whose mothers have not had chickenpox or have not received the vaccine can get a severe chickenpox.
The usual symptoms are: fever, headache, stomachache and chickenpox rash (250 to 500 small, fluid-filled and itchy blisters on red spots on the skin).
Chickenpox Complications, although exceptional, can be dangerous. Rarely, serious infections such as encephalitis have occurred. Other complications may include Reye's syndrome, myocarditis, pneumonia, transient arthritis, cerebellar ataxia.
Women who get chickenpox during pregnancy can pass the infection to the fetus and newborns are at risk of serious infection. Between 1999 and 2010, 103 deaths from chickenpox were recorded in Spain, 83% in people over 25 years.
For all these reasons, the AEP Pediatricians in one of their latest communiqués again claim that varicella vaccines are available in pharmacies so that parents who wish to protect their children against these diseases can do so if they do so. Prescribes your pediatrician.
But for now, parents who wish to immunize their children will not be able to do so, chickenpox cases will continue to increase predictably and what we do not expect is to have to know any case of serious complication due to this highly contagious disease or to reach epidemic levels.
