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CHICKENPOX
Even after the fact, vaccination may help.
THE QUESTION Once a child has been exposed to chickenpox, is there any benefit to vaccinating the child against the disease?
THIS STUDY analyzed data from three studies involving 110 healthy children who had been exposed to the varicella zoster virus (chickenpox) when a sibling contracted the illness. The children were randomly assigned to get a varicella vaccine or a fake vaccine shortly after exposure. About 18 percent of the children given the varicella vaccine contracted chickenpox, compared with 78 percent of the others. Those who developed chickenpox despite the vaccine had milder cases, with far fewer skin lesions.
WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Children exposed to chickenpox, which is highly contagious and occurs mostly in those 12 and younger. Symptoms include an itchy rash of blisterlike spots, often accompanied by fever and headache. The virus, which usually stays in the body forever, can cause shingles in adults.
CAVEATS Vaccine formulas varied among the studies. Information was not available on whether participants experienced any adverse reactions after vaccination. Most children were vaccinated within three days of exposure; whether vaccination later would produce the same results was not determined.
FIND THIS STUDY 2008 Issue 3 of the Cochrane Library.
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