Impact of six years of routine varicella vaccination on the disease-related hospitalizations at Minas Gerais, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: The varicella vaccine was first introduced into the Brazilian immunization schedule in September 2013 as a single dose for children aged 15 months. In 2018, a second dose was recommended for individuals between 4 and 6 years old. This study aims to assess the impact of routine varicella vaccination on the number and profile of hospitalized varicella patients during the single dose period, as well as in the first two years after the adoption of the second dose. METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted in an infectious disease pediatric hospital, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Clinical as well as epidemiological data from patients hospitalized due to varicella between 2010 and 2019 were collected. Patients were split into groups based on the vaccine introduction: pre-vaccine period, single dose and two-dose period. They were compared by age, sex, reason for admission, illness-related complications and clinical outcome. RESULTS: There were 1193 admissions due to varicella during the studied period. When compared with the pre-vaccine period, the number of hospitalizations decreased in 61.5% during the single-dose regime, reaching 95.2% in the two-dose period. Hospitalization rates decreased in all age groups, including non-vaccinated individuals such as those younger than 12 months (92.1%). As for reasons of admission, secondary bacterial skin infections were perceived to be the most common cause (>70%). A reduction was also seen in admission of immunocompromised or HIV positive patients (84.8%). CONCLUSION: The collected data shows a significant impact in the number of hospital admissions due to varicella after six years of the implementation of the vaccine, positively affecting both vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals. Further reduction was seen after the second dose was initiated, but its true impact will only be understood fully after a longer period of continuous vaccination.

NUMBER OF CASES OF VARICELLA AND HOSPITALIZATION IN A PEDIATRIC REFERENCE HOSPITAL IN BRAZIL AFTER INTRODUCING THE VACCINE.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the number of cases and the profile of hospitalizations from varicella after the introduction of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella combination vaccine in the public health system. METHODS: Retrospective study in an infectious diseases pediatric hospital of reference in Southeast Brazil. The cases with a clinical diagnosis of varicella, from January 2011 to June 2016, were assessed from pediatricians' medical records. The hospitalizations were classified into a pre-vaccine group and post-vaccine group, based on the date the vaccine was introduced (September 2013). Both groups were compared by age, sex, time of hospitalization, reason for hospitalization, hospital complications, duration of intensive care, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: A total of 830 hospitalizations were recorded; 543 in the pre-vaccine period and 287 in the post-vaccine period, a reduction of 47.1% (p<0.001). In both periods, a similar profile in the hospitalizations was noticed: majority male; aged between one to five years old; most complications due to secondary causes (mainly skin infections); main outcome was clinical improvement and discharge from the hospital. In the pre-vaccine period, six deaths were recorded and two were recorded in the post-vaccine period. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of the hospitalizations was expected to stay the same since this study did not compare vaccinated with unvaccinated children, but hospitalizations before and after the vaccine was introduced. In accordance with the medical literature, we found a significant fall in the number of hospitalizations from varicella.

Number of cases of varicella and hospitalization in a pediatric reference hospital in brazil after introducing the vaccine / Avaliação do número de casos e do perfil de internações por varicela em hospital pediátrico após a introdução da vacina

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the number of cases and the profile of hospitalizations from varicella after the introduction of the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella combination vaccine in the public health system. Methods: Retrospective study in an infectious diseases pediatric hospital of reference in Southeast Brazil. The cases with a clinical diagnosis of varicella, from January 2011 to June 2016, were assessed from pediatricians' medical records. The hospitalizations were classified into a pre-vaccine group and post-vaccine group, based on the date the vaccine was introduced (September 2013). Both groups were compared by age, sex, time of hospitalization, reason for hospitalization, hospital complications, duration of intensive care, and clinical outcome. Results: A total of 830 hospitalizations were recorded; 543 in the pre-vaccine period and 287 in the post-vaccine period, a reduction of 47.1% (p<0.001). In both periods, a similar profile in the hospitalizations was noticed: majority male; aged between one to five years old; most complications due to secondary causes (mainly skin infections); main outcome was clinical improvement and discharge from the hospital. In the pre-vaccine period, six deaths were recorded and two were recorded in the post-vaccine period. Conclusions: The profile of the hospitalizations was expected to stay the same since this study did not compare vaccinated with unvaccinated children, but hospitalizations before and after the vaccine was introduced. In accordance with the medical literature, we found a significant fall in the number of hospitalizations from varicella.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o número de casos e o perfil das internações por varicela após a introdução da vacina quádrupla viral na rede pública. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo conduzido em hospital pediátrico referência em doenças infectocontagiosas na Região Sudeste do Brasil. Foram avaliados os casos com diagnóstico clínico de varicela, registrados em prontuário por médico pediatra, de janeiro de 2011 até junho de 2016. As internações foram classificadas em grupo pré-vacinal e grupo pós-vacinal, com base na data de introdução da vacina (setembro de 2013). Os grupos foram comparados em relação a: faixa etária, sexo, tempo de hospitalização, causas da internação, complicações hospitalares, tempo da internação em terapia intensiva e desfecho clínico. Resultados: Foram documentadas 830 internações, 543 no período pré-vacinal e 287 no pós-vacinal, ocorrendo redução de 47,1% nas internações (p<0,001). Em ambos os períodos, notou-se um perfil similar das internações, predominantemente: sexo masculino; faixa etária de um a cinco anos; por causas secundárias (principalmente infecções de pele); evoluindo com melhora clínica e alta hospitalar. Em relação ao número de óbitos, ocorreram seis no período pré-vacinal e dois no pós-vacinal. Conclusões: A manutenção do perfil das internações era esperada, visto que o trabalho não comparou crianças vacinadas com não vacinadas, e sim internações pré e pós-vacinais. Observou-se, em concordância com a literatura, queda substancial no número de internações por varicela.

Uso da toxina botulínica na permanência de epífora após dacriocistorrinostomias / Use of botulinic toxin in epiphora not solved by dacryocystrhinostomies

Introdução: A Toxina Botulínica (TB) possui importantes aplicabilidades no tratamento de doenças oftalmológicas. Este trabalho apresenta a aplicação da TB no manejo da epífora, relacionada à obstrução baixa das vias de drenagem lacrimal, refratária à duas dacriocistorrinostomias (DCR). Descrição do caso: Paciente de 70 anos, sexo feminino, comparece ao serviço com queixa de epífora em ambos os olhos (AO) e histórico de dacriocistite aguda. Submetida à sondagem de vias lacrimais (AO), que sugeriu diagnóstico de obstrução baixa de vias lacrimais, e a duas DCR, em cada olho, ambas com resultado precário no controle da epífora. Foi então, realizada aplicação de TB em glândulas lacrimais em AO, com resultado satisfatório e remissão das queixas da paciente. Discussão: A aplicação da TB na glândula lacrimal gera inibição da excreção do conteúdo lacrimal e, consequente, redução dos efeitos da disfunção na drenagem causada pela obstrução baixa de vias lacrimais. Configura-se, portanto, como uma opção terapêutica relevante para o tratamento da epífora - principalmente para casos refratários ao tratamento cirúrgico convencional. O tratamento cirúrgico para epífora apresenta taxas de sucesso variando de 58-68%, já a aplicação de TB apresenta eficácia de 86%. Conclusão: O uso da TB em oftalmologia possui resultados promissores no tratamento de inúmeras doenças, como no caso relatado. Contudo, novos estudos são fundamentais para a definição de protocolos de utilização dessa droga, visando a otimizar sua eficácia e sua segurança para cada condição clínica. (AU)