QoLPox

Quality of Life Effects of Chickenpox on Hospitalised Children and their Families.

Open to recruitment

Aim of the study:

Chickenpox is a very common illness that almost all children catch before the age of five. For most it is a short illness with an itchy spotty rash but no long lasting effects, but some children will need admitting to hospital. There are very effective vaccines against chickenpox that are used in many other countries. We don’t use them in the UK because we don’t have enough information of the effects of having chickenpox on children and their families. This study collects data on children most severely affected by chickenpox to help decide if the vaccine should be used in the future.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria:

Inclusion Criteria

• Male or Female, in hospital less than 16 years old.
• Currently have chickenpox or have had it during the last 21 days (12m for stroke).
• Informed consent obtained from the parent(s) with assent in children >6 years.

Exclusion Criteria

Only those for whom admission is felt to be clinically unrelated to recent varicella (e.g. injuries / new malignant diagnosis) should be excluded from the study.

What participating in the study involves?: It would mean filling in a short questionnaire every day while in hospital and then taking a simple diary card to complete once a week when you are discharged and one final follow up at six months. A study doctor or nurse will contact you a few times during this to make sure your child is still ok.