Clinical and economic burden of varicella in pediatric patients hospitalized in four institutions in Guatemala

A new study in PLOS Global Public Health describes the use of hospital resources, costs of care, clinical and demographic characteristics, and complications in children with varicella in Guatemala. Varicella presents a public health challenge in Guatemala, though there is limited evidence regarding its impact and a vaccine is currently absent from the national immunization program. Generating local data on the economic and health burden can support immunization policies.

A retrospective review of medical records from 124 patients aged up to 14 years admitted in four public institutions in Guatemala between January 2015 and December 2019, with diagnosis of varicella was carried out. Forty six percent of patients had cancer.

• The average cost of hospitalization was $3,793 for complicated cases and $1,131 for uncomplicated cases.
• The average hospital stay was 11 days for patients with complications and 5 days for those without complications.
• In total, 66% of patients presented complications, with related infection complications being the most common.

In conclusion, hospitalizations for varicella impose a significant economic and clinical burden in Guatemala. Complications increase the cost of care by three times, highlighting the importance of considering the inclusion of the varicella vaccine in the National Immunization Program to prevent the disease.

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