Who is most at risk of complications from chickenpox?
Children usually do not develop complications. Those at increased risk for complications (generally pneumonia or bacterial infection of lesions) are immunocompromised persons, infants younger than 1 year of age, adolescents and adults, newborns whose mothers had chickenpox around the time of delivery, or premature infants whose mothers have not had chickenpox. Approximately one in every 400 persons who get chickenpox requires hospitalization. There are about 90 deaths a year from chickenpox in the United States. Chickenpox infection apparently remains latent and may recur years later as herpes zoster (shingles). The incidence of shingles increases with age. Persons with HIV infection are also at increased risk of shingles. Is there a vaccine for chickenpox? In 1995, the federal Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine to immunize children and other susceptible individuals against chickenpox. Children vaccinated at 12 months through 12 years of age require one dose. After age 13,
