Incidence of chickenpox in the lacking of universal childhood vaccination during a period 2009-2018 in Anbar Province Iraq

Abstract

Chickenpox (varicella) is by varicella zoster virus (VZV), very contagious aerial disease transmits through coughs & sneezes. Chickenpox sign frequently as beginning on trunk, back,with face, through the time, it diffuses toward others body parts as a minor, itchy blister, cutaneous rash. In 2013 there were 140 million cases of chickenpox and herpes zoster & in 2015 chickenpox caused in 6,400 deaths worldwide. Vaccination of children & adolescent is mentioned in many countries since 1995 that protects approximately 70-90% of people from getting infection. To know the incidence of Chickenpox to find out if it is necessary to import a vaccine for this disease in Anbar province, Iraq. Descriptive study of electronic archives for Chickenpox patients that registered immediately at Anbar province hospitals, during a period from 2009 to 2018. There were 9222 Chickenpox patients registered at Anbar province hospitals. Of them, 5,547 were males (60.15%). Mean age of Chickenpox patients at initial identification was 16.3 ± 8 years. The incidence rates in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,2016,2017 and 2018 were (150.00, 46.70, 79.00,54,00, 54.80, 12.60, 0.4, 2.60, 80.00 and 91.60) per 100,000 respectively & annual incidence ratio was 57.17 I 100,000 with significant variance between males & females; p value ≈ 0.000. Annual incidence ratio from 2009-2018 confirmed 2 peaks in 2009 & 2017-2018 & a rare 2014-2016. The prevalence of Chickenpox in age groups: Less than one year,1-4, 5-14, 15-45 and over 45 years old were (589, 2,170, 4825, 1268, 370) respectively. Chickenpox incidence had been increase above the last 2 years. Data created via current search afford the conviction of the importance of importing a special vaccine for chickenpox in Anbar province, Iraq