Chickenpox — Examining Our Options

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 325; no. 22; pp. 1577 - 1579
• Main Author: Brunell, Philip A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 28.11.1991
• Subjects: Acyclovir - therapeutic use; Adult; Adults; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antigens; Antiviral agents; Biological and medical sciences; Chicken pox; Chickenpox - drug therapy; Chickenpox - prevention & control; Chickenpox Vaccine; Child; Clinical trials; Disease; Fatalities; Herpes Zoster - prevention & control; Herpesvirus 3, Human - immunology; Humans; Illnesses; Infections; Leukemia; Leukemia - complications; Medical sciences; Mortality; Older people; Pediatrics; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prevention; Vaccination; Vaccines; Viral Vaccines; Human; Infection; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Viral disease; Varicella; Antiviral; Child
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199111283252209

CHICKENPOX (varicella) is a much less serious illness than poliomyelitis, diphtheria, or pertussis. Thus, one would not expect a chickenpox vaccine to reduce morbidity and mortality to the same extent as immunization against these other diseases. Uncomplicated chickenpox is far less debilitating than the usual case of measles. A sophisticated study design is therefore required to demonstrate that treatment affects the course of this self-limiting illness. Expectations of prevention or therapy must be clearly defined. Statistical differences between treatment and placebo groups will not necessarily imply results that are clinically important. Less than 5 percent of the economic burden of . . .