Many parents still consider varicella a mild disease and are mainly concerned about scarring. However, according to infectious disease experts, hospitals continue to record numerous severe complications in children, including necrotising pneumonia and encephalitis.

VARICELLA CAN BE TRANSMITTED BEFORE RASH ONSET

“Although effective vaccines have long been available, varicella continues to circulate widely in Viet Nam. In 2023 alone, a significant increase in cases was recorded across many localities, from Ha Noi to other provinces and cities. The disease is caused by the Varicella-Zoster virus and is extremely contagious, particularly in crowded settings involving children such as nurseries, kindergartens, and primary schools,” said Dr Do Thien Hai, Deputy Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases at the National Children’s Hospital, during the scientific conference entitled “Varicella – Second-Generation MAV/06 Strain Vaccine and Updates from the World Health Organization”, held on the afternoon of May 9.

According to Dr Do Thien Hai, the varicella virus not only causes temporary immune suppression but also affects cellular immunity. When cellular immunity is impaired, children become more susceptible to secondary infections such as pneumonia and sepsis.

A major concern is that infected children can already transmit the virus before the onset of rash. During the first two days, many children experience only mild fever and fatigue but continue attending school, eating, sleeping, and interacting closely with classmates.

Dr Do Thien Hai shares several cases of secondary varicella infections with severe complications
PHOTO: LE CAM

At the National Children’s Hospital, physicians have recorded numerous cases of cellulitis, sepsis, encephalitis, and multiple organ failure following varicella infection. Notably, several cases of necrotising pneumonia caused by secondary staphylococcal infection resulted in severe lung damage.

“Some children required treatment for several months before recovery,” Dr Hai shared.

THE PERCEPTION THAT VARICELLA IS A MILD DISEASE NEEDS TO CHANGE

Associate Professor, Dr Pham Quang Thai – Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Control, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology – stated that the community must change its perception that varicella is a mild disease.

“Globally, more than 4,000 deaths from varicella are recorded each year. Some patients develop encephalitis caused by the varicella virus. Given the severity of these complications, we can no longer underestimate this disease,” Dr Thai stated.

Associate Professor, Dr Pham Quang Thai speaking at the conference
PHOTO: LE CAM

According to Associate Professor Pham Quang Thai, one of the most common questions from parents is whether children should receive one dose or two doses of the vaccine.

“According to recommendations from the World Health Organization, a single-dose schedule provides approximately 81% protection, with the risk of breakthrough varicella increasing as antibody levels decline over time. However, completing the two-dose schedule can increase protection to up to 98%, reducing the risk of breakthrough varicella by 3.3 times compared with a single dose,” Dr Thai explained.

Currently, the priority age group for protection is children under 10 years of age, particularly those aged 1–9 years, who account for the highest incidence of varicella. Under normal conditions, experts consider 12 months of age to be the optimal timing for the first dose in order to achieve a strong immune response.

source: thanhnien.vn