Table 3

Comparison of varicella burden in Europe

CountryYearIncidence
(/105 person-years)
Hospitalisation rate
(/104 varicella cases)
Cases (n)Median age
(years)
Length of hospital stay
(median in days)
ComplicationsDeaths (n)Fatality rate
(/hospitalised cases)
SequelaeMortality rate
(/105 person-years)
Cameron et al22UK and Ireland2002–20030.82na18837Bacterial superinfections 46%52.637% (ataxia)0.04
(severe hospitalised cases)CNS involvement 27%
Ziebold et al23Germany19970.855119nanaBacterial superinfections 61%3na6.7%na
(severe hospitalised cases)CNS involvement 35%
Bonhoeffer et al24Switzerland2000–20035.9134203.55Bacterial superinfections 36%30.54%na
(all hospitalised cases)CNS involvement 25%
Dubos et al25North of France200325na1621.754Bacterial superinfections 29%31.8na0.5
(all hospitalised cases)CNS involvement 26%
Liese et al26Germany2003–200414.1na9183.35Bacterial superinfections 23%1018.7%na
(all hospitalised cases)CNS involvement 25%
National Belgian surveyBelgium2011–201229.5na5522.13Bacterial superinfections 43%10.201%0.5
(all hospitalised cases)CNS involvement 10%
  • CNS, central nervous system.