Objective: To determine the chicken pox demographics, burden of disease and vaccine awareness in a pediatrics outpatient.
Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted at pediatric department of Federal General Hospital, Islamabad from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2019. Patients of chicken pox, ≤13 years of age were enrolled and followed up till three weeks either in OPD or on phone. Disease demographics, vaccine awareness and burden of disease were recorded. Data were analyzed on SPSS version 26.
Results: Out of 81 primary cases, mean age was 5.3±3.3 years with a slight female predominance. Index cases sought medical attention more than contact cases. There was disease burden in the form of school (54%) and work absences (60%), significant household cases (162), misuse of medicines (47%), complications (50%) and poor knowledge about available vaccine (79%). In 81 primary cases, there were 162 secondary cases showing that chicken pox involvement is more than what is reflected by hospital records.
Conclusion: Out of hospital burden, morbidity of disease was much higher. Complications were not uncommon, especially in high risk groups. Vaccine awareness was very low and need to be promoted and should be targeted for children with comorbidities.
Key words: Varicella, exposure, contacts, complications, burden, awareness.
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