increased incidence of chickenpox in SP; Understanding the disease and ways to prevent it

São Paulo, the capital, recorded 213 events as of October 5, an increase of 65% compared to 2021.

As a result of the 65% increase in cases of chickenpox in the city of São Paulo, SEGEM – Center for Studies and Research “Dr. João Amorim “warns of the importance of prevention and vaccination against the disease.

According to data from the Sao Paulo Municipal Health Secretariat, the city had recorded 213 cases of the disease by October 5, an increase of 65% compared to 2021.

This fact worries specialists, who point to a decrease in vaccination coverage, and perhaps to people returning to social life after the easing of health measures against Covid-19.

In this sense, infection scientist Dr. Rebecca Saad, of CEJAM’s Hospital Infection Control Service, corroborates what other specialist colleagues have said and underlines the advance of the anti-vaccine movement, driven by political polarization.

“For the past four years, the Ministry of Health has not conducted a vaccination campaign in the country. Before 2014, vaccination coverage was 95% of the population. It decreased to 90% in 2016 and is currently close to 50%. This is very dangerous,” he says.

The expert warns, contrary to what most people think, that chickenpox can kill due to complications such as encephalitis and pneumonia, especially in the elderly and patients in the risk group who are immunocompromised.

In context, the doctor mentions that, in the past, chickenpox was a disease that was very common, especially among children. In fact, popular wisdom has suggested that they should be encouraged to get sick so that they don’t suffer from greater illness as adults.

“In Brazil, the scenario has changed since 2013, when the vaccine began to be provided free of charge by the Unified Health System (SUS),” notes the doctor. “There are two ways to immunize an individual: through the use of the quadrivalent viral vaccine (SCR-V), which works against chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella, and through the varicella vaccine against chickenpox, along with the trivalent viral vaccine. The type of application depends on the prescription. Medical, but there is no difference between one method and another, ”reiterates the infection specialist from CEJAM.

The immunization device meets the requirements of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) for the manufacture of biological materials and is part of the basic vaccination schedule offered by SUS through the National Immunization Program (PNI) of the Ministry of Health.

According to Fiocruz, which provides the vaccine for PNI, the varicella vaccine is produced from live attenuated varicella zoster virus, that is, it is weakened by chemical processes or high temperatures and is highly effective. In addition to having a good tolerability profile, it rarely results in adverse events or allergic reactions.

Since 2018, the vaccine has been administered in two doses, one at 15 months of age and the other at 4 years of age. However, unvaccinated adults and adolescents should also be immunized to avoid the disease. It is contraindicated for pregnant women, newborns and people with immune problems.

All UBSs and Ambulatory Medical Assistance (AMAs) offer a free immunization year-round.

Infection and symptoms

According to the CEJAM infection doctor, chickenpox is highly contagious and transmitted by aerosol and contact. “The particles, which are very fine (less than 5 microns), float in the air and take a long time to fall to the ground, thus reaching greater distances, which makes chickenpox more transmissible than others through droplets (coughing, sneezing, and saliva), such as Covid-19.” -19″.

To avoid infection, it is necessary to keep the individual infected with smallpox in isolation at home until the lesions turn into scabs, when they stop transmitting the disease, in addition to cleaning hands, clothing, bedding, and other items that may be contaminated.

“The incubation period of the virus is 4 to 16 days. Transmission occurs 1-2 days before the appearance of skin lesions and up to 6 days after, when all the lesions have turned into crusts,” says Dr. Rebecca.

According to her, symptoms usually appear 10 to 21 days after infection and include headache, hypothermia, loss of appetite, malaise, fatigue, red spots and blisters on the body.

According to the Department of Health, blisters initially appear on the face, trunk, or scalp, and can spread and turn into small vesicles filled with a clear fluid. Within a few days, the fluid darkens and the blisters begin to dry up and heal. This process causes a lot of itching, and infections can develop due to nail bacteria or objects used to scratch them.

“When the first symptoms appear, it is necessary to seek a health service so that a professional can guide treatment and assess the severity of the disease. In the past, the diagnosis of chickenpox was based on clinical examination, but with the outbreak of chickenpox (monkeypox), which has similar manifestations, It is often necessary to perform serology and collect material from the lesion to check for the disease virus, ”the specialist concludes.

There is no specific treatment for chickenpox, but after medical evaluation, an antiviral may be prescribed.

About CEJAM

CEJAM – Center for Studies and Research “Dr. João Amorim “is a charitable and non-profit entity. Founded in 1991, the Foundation works in partnership with local municipal councils, in the regions in which it operates, or with the state government, in the management of health services and programs in the municipalities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Mogi das Cruzes, Itu, Osasco, Campinas, Carapequipa, Franco da Rocha, Guarulhos, Santos, Sao Roque, Francisco Morato, Ferraz de Vasconcelos, Beruebe and Itapevi.

With the mission of being a tool that transforms people’s lives through promotion, prevention and healthcare actions, CEJAM is an institution of excellence in supporting the Unified Health System (SUS). Its name is in honor of dr. Joao Amorim, obstetrician and co-founder of the Foundation.