The authors recommend that children on long term aspirin therapy for
complications of Kawasaki Disease should be immunised with varicella
zoster vaccine because of the risk of Reye's syndrome (RS) if they acquire
chicken pox. It is equally important that they receive influenza vaccine
annually because influenza is also associated with the development of RS
in children taking aspirin. In fact one of the groups listed as eligible
for annual routine flu vaccine in both the United States and South Africa,
is children and teenagers on aspirin.
The authors recommend that children on long term aspirin therapy for complications of Kawasaki Disease should be immunised with varicella zoster vaccine because of the risk of Reye's syndrome (RS) if they acquire chicken pox. It is equally important that they receive influenza vaccine annually because influenza is also associated with the development of RS in children taking aspirin. In fact one of the groups listed as eligible for annual routine flu vaccine in both the United States and South Africa, is children and teenagers on aspirin.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared