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Published in: Italian Journal of Pediatrics 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Varicella associated pneumoniae in a pediatric population

Authors: Elena Bozzola, Guido Castelli Gattinara, Mauro Bozzola, Nadia Mirante, Marco Masci, Chiara Rossetti, Andrzej Krzystofiak, Luciana Nicolosi, Renato Cutrera, Laura Lancella, Alberto Eugenio Tozzi, Alberto Villani

Published in: Italian Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Varicella pneumonia has been studied extensively in adults; it may also affect children and may require hospitalization.

Methods

We examined pneumonia complications in children hospitalized for varicella, over a 13 year period.

Results

Pneumonia occurred in 8.2% of children hospitalized for varicella. The median length of hospitalization was 6 days. No statistically significant difference in length of stay was detected between immunodepressed children and previously healthy children. The hospitalization was on average shorter in patients who started antiviral therapy within 24 h of varicella onset. None of the included patients had been previously immunized for varicella.

Conclusions

Our results support the need for increased awareness of current varicella prevention recommendations among both immunocompetent and immunodepressed individuals. In children affected by varicella, prompt antiviral therapy may be indicated to reduce the number of days of hospitalization.
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Metadata
Title
Varicella associated pneumoniae in a pediatric population
Authors
Elena Bozzola
Guido Castelli Gattinara
Mauro Bozzola
Nadia Mirante
Marco Masci
Chiara Rossetti
Andrzej Krzystofiak
Luciana Nicolosi
Renato Cutrera
Laura Lancella
Alberto Eugenio Tozzi
Alberto Villani
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Italian Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1824-7288
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-017-0366-8

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