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Varicela - Prevention

Prevención:

Debido a que la varicela es de transmisión aérea y es muy contagiosa antes de que aparezca la erupción, es difícil de evitar. Es posible contraer la varicela de alguien en un pasillo diferente en el supermercado que ni siquiera sabe que padece esta enfermedad.

Una vacuna contra la varicela es parte del esquema de vacunación de rutina.

  • Los niños reciben dos dosis de la vacuna tradicional contra la varicela. La primera debe aplicarse cuando el niño tiene de 12 a 15 meses de edad. Los niños deben recibir la segunda dosis cuando tienen de 4 a 6 años de edad.
  • Las personas de 13 años en adelante que no hayan recibido la vacuna y no hayan tenido varicela debe recibir dos dosis, con un intervalo de 4 a 8 semanas.

Casi ninguna persona padecerá varicela moderada o grave si ha recibido la vacuna contra esta enfermedad. El pequeño número de casos que sí presentan varicela después de haber recibido la vacuna tienen sólo un caso leve.

La vacuna contra la varicela no requiere una dosis de refuerzo más tarde en la vida. Sin embargo, una vacuna similar pero diferente aplicada posteriormente puede reducir la incidencia del herpes zóster (culebrilla).

Consulte con el médico si piensa que su hijo podría estar en alto riesgo de complicaciones y que podría haber estado expuesto a la enfermedad. Puede ser importante tomar medidas preventivas inmediatas. Aplicar la vacuna poco después de la exposición puede incluso reducir la gravedad de la enfermedad.

  • Reviewed last on: 9/13/2009
  • Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Myers MG, Seward JF, LaRussa PS. Varicella-zoster virus. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 250.

American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases. Recommended immunization schedules for children and adolescents--United States, 2008. Pediatrics. 2008;121:219-220.

This article uses information by permission from Alan Greene, M.D., © Greene Ink, Inc.

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