Incidence of chickenpox in young South Korean soldiers and correlation with atopic dermatitis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In South Korea, military service is compulsory for all healthy young men and provides specific environmental factors, with groups working and living together in specific places for several years making varicella more transmissible to susceptible individuals. Studies of people serving in the South Korean military may provide information about the young adult male population in Korea.

AIM: To determine the relationship between chickenpox and atopic dermatitis (AD) in young adults over a period of 3 years.

METHODS: The computerized database of the Armed Forces Medical Command was examined to identify the number of reported cases of chickenpox, AD, and AD associated with chickenpox.

RESULTS: In total, 588 cases of chickenpox (183, 182 and 223 in the periods November 2004 to October 2005, November 2005 to October 2006, and November 2006 to October 2007, respectively) were reported. A greater number of patients were found to be infected with chickenpox in January and November, with fewer patients in August and September (P < 0.0001). Within the same periods, 1890, 2417 and 2779 patients diagnosed with AD were recorded in the Defense Medical Information System. Only 3 of 588 patients with chickenpox also had AD (0.5%).

CONCLUSION: In this population-based study, the epidemiological trend of chickenpox and AD over a period of 3 years within the military personnel of South Korea is shown.