SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2017
Varicella zoster virus-associated morbidity and mortality in Africa - a systematic review.
Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- The clinical and economic burden of varicella in the Middle East: a systematic literature review.Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics · 2020Pooled it
- Safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of the MAV/06 varicella vaccine: A comprehensive review of a new strain vaccine.Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics · 2026Review
- Postherpetic Neuralgia: Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Stratified Management-A Narrative Review.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2026Review
- Varicella Zoster Virus Infection: Clinical Features, Molecular Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention.MedComm · 2026Review
- Incidence of herpes zoster in Afro-descendant populations: a systematic literature review.BMJ public health · 2026Article
- Trends and patterns of varicella zoster virus infection in Kilifi: A population-based serosurvey.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Evaluating the Immunogenicity, Efficacy, and Effectiveness of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine for Global Public Health Policy.Vaccines · 2025Review
- Global burden of varicella and herpes zoster across 204 countries, 1990-2021: a temporal trend analysis in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic and projections to 2036.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Primary Varicella Infection in a Young Adult from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Case Report and Mini-Review.Infectious disease reports · 2024Article
- Seroconversion and seroprevalence of TORCH infections in a pregnant women cohort study, Mombasa, Kenya, 2017-2019.Epidemiology and infection · 2024Article
- No Varicella Zoster Virus Infection among Mpox Cases in Antwerp, Belgium.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2023Article
- Mutations in Coding and Non-Coding Regions in Varicella-Zoster Virus Causing Fatal Hemorrhagic Fever Without Rash in an Immunocompetent Patient: Case Report.Infectious diseases and therapy · 2023Article
- COVID-19 and herpes zoster: a call to action.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Surveillance of Nigerian children suggests that varicella may be a risk factor for acquisition of monkeypox.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Reassessment of Evidence about Coinfection of Chickenpox and Monkeypox (Mpox) in African Children.Viruses · 2022Review
- Monkeypox in pregnancy: virology, clinical presentation, and obstetric management.American journal of obstetrics and gynecology · 2022Review
- Awareness of varicella-zoster virus among undergraduate students at the University of Namibia.Journal of public health in Africa · 2022Article
- Economic evaluation of varicella vaccination strategies in Jiangsu province, China: a decision-tree Markov model.Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics · 2021Article
- Herpes Infections in Suspected Cases of Yellow Fever in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVaricella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella and herpes zoster. These vaccine preventable diseases are common globally. Most available data on VZV epidemiology are from industrialised temperate countries and cannot be used to guide decisions on the immunization policy against VZV in Africa. This systematic review aims to review the published data on VZV morbidity and mortality in Africa.
methodsAll published studies conducted in Africa from 1974 to 2015 were eligible. Eligible studies must have reported any VZV epidemiological measure (incidence, prevalence, hospitalization rate and mortality rate). For inclusion in the review, studies must have used a defined VZV case definition, be it clinical or laboratory-based.
resultsTwenty articles from 13 African countries were included in the review. Most included studies were cross-sectional, conducted on hospitalized patients, and half of the studies used varying serological methods for diagnosis. VZV seroprevalence was very high among adults. Limited data on VZV seroprevalence in children showed very low seropositivity to anti-VZV antibodies. Co-morbidity with VZV was common.
conclusionThere is lack of quality data that could be used to develop VZV control programmes, including vaccination, in Africa.
trial registrationPROSPERO 2015: CRD42015026144 .
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.