Heininger Ulrich, Seward Jane F
Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, University Children's Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
Lancet. 2006 Oct 14;368(9544):1365-76. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69561-5.
Varicella-zoster virus, a herpesvirus, causes varicella (chickenpox) and, after endogenous reactivation, herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella, which is recognised by a characteristic vesicular rash, arises mainly in young children, although older individuals can be affected. In immunocompetent patients, symptoms are usually mild to moderate, but an uncomplicated severe case can have more than 1000 lesions and severe constitutional symptoms. Serious complications--including central nervous system involvement, pneumonia, secondary bacterial infections, and death--are sometimes seen. Varicella can be prevented by vaccination. Vaccine is about 80-85% effective against all disease and highly (more than 95%) effective in prevention of severe disease. In the USA, a routine childhood immunisation programme has reduced disease incidence, complications, hospital admissions, and deaths in children and in the general population, indicating strong herd immunity. Similar immunisation programmes have been adopted by some other countries, including Uruguay, Germany, Taiwan, Canada, and Australia, and are expected to be implemented more widely in future.
水痘带状疱疹病毒是一种疱疹病毒,可引起水痘(鸡痘),内源性再激活后会引发带状疱疹(蛇串疮)。水痘以特征性水疱疹为特征,主要发生在幼儿中,不过年龄较大的个体也可能受到影响。在免疫功能正常的患者中,症状通常为轻至中度,但无并发症的严重病例可能有1000多个皮损及严重的全身症状。有时会出现严重并发症,包括中枢神经系统受累、肺炎、继发性细菌感染及死亡。水痘可通过接种疫苗预防。疫苗对所有疾病的预防有效率约为80 - 85%,对预防重症疾病的有效性很高(超过95%)。在美国,常规儿童免疫计划降低了儿童及普通人群中的疾病发病率、并发症、住院率及死亡率,显示出强大的群体免疫力。包括乌拉圭、德国、台湾、加拿大和澳大利亚在内的其他一些国家也采用了类似的免疫计划,预计未来会更广泛地实施。