High rate of varicella complications among Mexican-born adults in Alabama.
Autor(es): Danovaro-Holliday M.; Carolina Gordon Ely R.; Jumaan Aisha O.; Woernle Charles; Judy Randa H.; Schmid D. Scott; Seward Jane F.
Resumo: Our study examines risk factors for severe varicella in an outbreak among Mexican-born adults, and it compares susceptibility to infection and reliability of self-reported varicella history for these individuals with that for adults born in the United States in the outbreak locale, which may guide vaccination strategies. We interviewed case patients and non-case persons in the affected apartment complex and workplace, assessed disease history and susceptibility by testing for varicella-zoster virus immunoglobulin G antibodies, and reviewed the clinical data of case patients. Five of 18 case patients had serious complications for which they sought medical care; 1 was hospitalized for pneumonia, and 1 was hospitalized for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Only intense exposure (e.g., sharing a bed) was marginally associated with severe disease (P=.08). In the workplace, varicella susceptibility was higher among Mexican-born workers (20%) than among workers born in the United States (3%) (adjusted prevalence odds ratio, 5.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-14.8). Mexican-born persons had the highest positive predictive value of self-reported disease (100%) in predicting immunity, and those born in the United States had the lowest negative predictive value of self-reported history (10%) in predicting susceptibility. Varicella is a more serious disease among adults than among children, and Mexican-born adults living in the United States might have a higher risk of acquiring varicella than US-born adults. Varicella outbreaks involving adults should be prioritized for control efforts. Outbreaks can be prevented by vaccinating susceptible adults.
Imprenta: Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, v. 39, n. 11, p. 1633-1639, 2004
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1086/425613
Descritores: Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Pathogenesis ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Antibodies ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Viral infections ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Virus ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Epidemiology ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Public health
Data de publicação: 2004
