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Contents
Should I protect my child against chickenpox?
Most people believe that chickenpox is a harmless, even normal, part of growing up. But it can be more serious.
Of the 350,000 new cases of chickenpox that occur every year, approximately 1900 will develop complications that require hospitalization. Of note, up to 5% of chickenpox cases in otherwise healthy children may develop complications such as otitis media (middle ear infection).
Chickenpox may also be associated with other serious complications such as:
- necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease)
- osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone)
- bacteremia (blood infection)
- endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart)
- pneumonia
- encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
Chickenpox may also increase the risk of flesh-eating disease by 40 to 60 times.
Chickenpox can be particularly serious, even life-threatening, to infants, adults, or anyone with a weakened immune system. Sadly, every year 1 to 16 Canadians die due to complications of chickenpox…
…deaths that may be prevented through vaccination.
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