Bogusz Joanna, Paradowska-Stankiewicz Iwona
National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute, Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance.
Przegl Epidemiol. 2022;76(4):568-573. doi: 10.32394/pe.76.52.
Chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. The characteristic feature of this virus is very high visibility of 90-95%. The most common connection is direct contact with the disease or via droplets. The United States was the first country to introduce a universal, population-based childhood varicella vaccination program in 1995. In its 25 years of implementation, this program has significantly reduced the burden of chickenpox. There was a more than 97% reduction in varicella incidence and a 90% reduction in varicella-related hospitalizations and deaths, the highest (99%) in those under the age of 20 (born after starting the vaccination programme). Chickenpox is very common in Poland. In recent years, starting from 2002, there has been an upward trend in the incidence of chickenpox, except for 2020. In 2020, a decrease in the number of cases was recorded.
The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological situation of chickenpox in Poland in 2020 and to compare it with the situation in previous years.
Evaluation of the epidemiological situation of chickenpox in Poland in 2020 was based on the results of the analysis of aggregate data published in the annual bulletins: "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2020." and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2020". In addition, recommendations from the Protective Vaccination Program for 2020 were used.
In 2020, 71,567 cases of chickenpox were registered in Poland, i.e. 39.6% less than in the previous year. The incidence of chickenpox in 2020 was 186.6 per 100,000 and was lower than in 2019. The lowest incidence was recorded in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodship - 118.5/100,000, while the highest in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship - 263.5/100,000. Most cases concerned children aged 0-4 years (36,661). The incidence of chickenpox in men was higher than in women, and in rural areas higher than in urban dwellers. Hospitalization due to chickenpox in 2020 covered 1,368 people, which accounted for 0.51% of the total number of registered cases.
In 2020, there was a decrease in the number of cases of chickenpox compared to the previous year. The lower incidence may have been the result of reduced transmission of the varicella virus due to changes in the health behavior of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic (isolation measures and the introduction of a lock down throughout Poland limiting the activity of the population).
水痘是由水痘带状疱疹病毒引起的一种传染病。这种病毒的特征是可见度非常高，达90 - 95%。最常见的传播途径是与患病者直接接触或通过飞沫传播。美国是1995年首个推行基于人群的普遍儿童水痘疫苗接种计划的国家。在其实施的25年里，该计划显著减轻了水痘负担。水痘发病率降低了97%以上，与水痘相关的住院率和死亡率降低了90%，在20岁以下人群（接种计划开始后出生）中降幅最高，达99%。水痘在波兰非常常见。近年来，从2002年开始，除2020年外，水痘发病率呈上升趋势。2020年，病例数有所下降。
本研究旨在评估2020年波兰水痘的流行病学情况，并与往年情况进行比较。
基于对年度公报《2020年波兰的传染病和中毒情况》以及《2020年波兰的疫苗接种情况》中汇总数据分析的结果，对2020年波兰水痘的流行病学情况进行评估。此外，还采用了2020年预防性疫苗接种计划的建议。
2020年，波兰登记了71,567例水痘病例，比上一年减少了39.6%。2020年水痘发病率为每10万人186.6例，低于2019年。发病率最低的是什切青省，为每10万人118.5例，最高的是库亚维-波美拉尼亚省，为每10万人263.5例。大多数病例涉及0 - 4岁儿童（36,661例）。男性水痘发病率高于女性，农村地区高于城市居民。2020年因水痘住院的有1,368人，占登记病例总数的0.51%。
与上一年相比，2020年水痘病例数有所减少。发病率较低可能是由于在新冠疫情期间人群健康行为发生变化（隔离措施以及波兰全国实施封锁限制了人群活动），导致水痘病毒传播减少。
