Litt John, Burgess Margaret
Department of General Practice, Flinders University, Noarlunga Hospital, South Australia.
Aust Fam Physician. 2003 Aug;32(8):583-7.
Although varicella is generally mild in children, it is often more severe in adults and overall is responsible for approximately 2000 hospital admissions each year in Australia. Live attenuated varicella vaccines have been available in Australia since 2000. They are safe and effective.
This article discusses the role of varicella vaccination and management of varicella in pregnancy.
The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends vaccination of all children at the age of 18 months and a catch up program for nonimmune adolescents and adults. The program is not yet funded by the commonwealth government. Varicella vaccine may be used for postexposure prophylaxis and is most effective if given within three days after exposure, but can be used up to five days from exposure. Varicella in pregnancy may cause congenital malformations; the highest risk (2%) being when maternal infection occurs between 13-20 weeks gestation. Offer varicella zoster immunoglobulin to nonimmune pregnant women, neonates and other high risk subjects with significant exposure to varicella or zoster.
虽然水痘在儿童中通常症状较轻，但在成人中往往更为严重，在澳大利亚每年约有2000例因水痘住院治疗的病例。自2000年以来，减毒活水痘疫苗已在澳大利亚上市。它们安全有效。
本文讨论水痘疫苗接种的作用以及孕期水痘的管理。
澳大利亚国家卫生与医学研究委员会建议对所有18个月大的儿童进行疫苗接种，并为未免疫的青少年和成人开展补种计划。该计划尚未由联邦政府提供资金。水痘疫苗可用于暴露后预防，在接触后三天内接种最为有效，但接触后五天内也可使用。孕期感染水痘可能导致先天性畸形；当孕妇在妊娠13至20周之间感染水痘时，风险最高（2%）。为未免疫的孕妇、新生儿和其他有显著水痘或带状疱疹暴露史的高危人群提供水痘带状疱疹免疫球蛋白。
