Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background and Aim: Varicella is a common, highly contagious disease. It is usually benign, but has potentially serious complications especially in the infants, adults, pregnant women and immunodeficient patients. This study was planned to evaluate the protective antibody against Varicella zoster virus infection (VZV) in children that had referred to Hazrat-e- Rasool Akram Hospital.

  Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, VZV infection was studied by determining the presence of IgG and IgM antibody using EIA method. One hundred twenty serum samples were collected from children that referred to Hazrat-e- Rasool Akram Hospital. Individuals' age ranged between

  1-16 years (4/5±3/71 yr). The results were analyzed by t-test and Chi-square test.

  Results: VZV infection was 42.5% (51 out of 120). Seroprevalence rate for protective antibody against VZV in different age groups was 30.66% (1-4 years), 55.55 %( 5-8 years), 66.66 %

  ( 9-12 years) and 83.33% (13-16years).

  Conclusion: There was a correlation between age and the presence of anti-VZV antibody in the serum (p<0.05). We recommend VZV vaccination to be ideally administered to children 12 months of age and older.