Varicella-Related Hospitalization in Children: A Retrospective Study in the Pre-Vaccine Era in Ankara, Turkey/Cocuklarda Sucicegine Bagli Hospitalizasyon. Turkiye'de Ankara'da Asi Oncesi Donemde Retrospektif Bir Calisma (Original Article/Ozgun Arastirma) (Report‪)‬

Introduction Varicella is a common contagious disease caused by primary varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection. Varicella infection usually results in mild to moderate illness. However, it is more severe in immunocompromised people and it can result in high morbidity and mortality. Potentially life-threatening complications include pneumonitis, secondary bacterial infections, encephalitis, and hemorrhage. The varicella vaccine prevents most of the morbidity caused by primary varicella in children and is recommended by The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee on Immunization (1,2). In Turkey, routine vaccination against varicella has not become standard practice, despite the commercial availability of the varicella vaccine and data on varicella complications are scant. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the indications of hospital admissions, complications of varicella infection and their clinical characteristics among previously healthy and ill children.