Chickenpox epidemiology and demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aravind Reddy Kothagadi M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

The incidence of chickenpox varies among various age groups. Varicella commonly affects children less than 10 years of age with the highest incidence among children 1-4 years of age. The incidence of chickenpox for children between 0 to 4 years of age is 5234 per 100,000 individuals. Between the years 1990-1994, the case fatality rate of chickenpox in the US/UK was 2-3 per 100,000 individuals. In developed countries, chickenpox causes around 3 deaths per 100,000 individuals.

Epidemiology

Incidence

The incidence of chickenpox varies among various age groups. The incidence rates per 100,000 persons in each age group were as follow:

For age groups 0 to 4 years 5234 per 100,000 individuals
For age groups 5 to 9 years 4132 per 100,000 individuals
For age groups 10 to 14 years 1404 per 100,000 individuals
For age groups 15 to 19 years 610 per 100,000 individuals
For age groups >20 years 175 per 100,000 individuals

The rates of incidence of chickenpox declines for older age groups.^[1]

Case Fatality Rate

Between the years 1990-1994, case fatality rate in the US/UK is 2-3 per 100,000.

The case fatality rate among children was 1 per 100,000.
In 2008 the case fatality rate in Brazil estimated case fatality rate is 4 per 100,000. ^[2]
In 2000 the case fatality rate in Guinea Bissau was approximately 129 per 100,000 cases, 50 times higher than US/UK.
In 1970, the case fatality rate in India among adults was 52 per 100,000 cases, 20 times higher than US/UK.
Worldwide, the case fatality rate among adults was 20-25 per 100,000. ^[2]

Demographics

Age

The prevalence of chicken pox decreases with age.
Varicella commonly affects children less than 10 years of age with the highest incidence among children 1-4 years of age.

Gender

The prevalence and incidence of chickenpox generally do not vary by gender.
Chickenpox is more prevalent in females between the ages of 15 – 24 as compared to males.^[3]

Race

There is no racial predilection for chickenpox.

Developed Countries

The epidemiology and demographics of chickenpox in developed countries are as follows:^[2]

Incidence
- 1500 – 1600 per 100,000 persons per year
Case-fatality rate
- 3 deaths per 100,000 cases

Gallery

Varicella cases and states reporting, United States, 1972-1996. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[4]

References

↑ Choo PW, Donahue JG, Manson JE, Platt R (1995). “The epidemiology of varicella and its complications”. J. Infect. Dis. 172 (3): 706–12. PMID 7658062.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 “www.who.int” (PDF).
↑ Fleming DM, Cross KW, Cobb WA, Chapman RS (2004). “Gender difference in the incidence of shingles”. Epidemiol. Infect. 132 (1): 1–5. PMC 2870070. PMID 14979582.
↑ “Public Health Image Library (PHIL)”.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[pmid7658062-1] Choo PW, Donahue JG, Manson JE, Platt R (1995). “The epidemiology of varicella and its complications”. J. Infect. Dis. 172 (3): 706–12. PMID 7658062.

[urlwww.who.int-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 “www.who.int” (PDF).

[pmid14979582-3] Fleming DM, Cross KW, Cobb WA, Chapman RS (2004). “Gender difference in the incidence of shingles”. Epidemiol. Infect. 132 (1): 1–5. PMC 2870070. PMID 14979582.

[PHIL-4] “Public Health Image Library (PHIL)”.

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