In Kazakhstan’s major city, Almaty, the number of chickenpox cases among children has sharply increased, reported tengrinews.kz.
According to official data, in the first nine months of this year, the number of cases rose by almost 39 percent compared to the previous year. The director of the City Children’s Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yerzhan Seralin, stated that during this period, 183 children were hospitalized, and the number of patients with severe complications increased by 40 percent.
Experts say chickenpox is a viral disease transmitted through the air, causing itching and blistering rashes on the skin. It primarily affects children, especially the respiratory and nervous systems.
Between October 1 and 14, 14 children were admitted to intensive care. Among them were patients with bilateral pneumonia, seizures, and acute respiratory failure.
Yerzhan Seralin emphasized that many children are brought to the hospital too late. “Most parents seek medical help on the 8th–10th day of the illness. By that time, complications have already developed, making treatment more difficult,” said the doctor.
Currently, most cases are recorded among preschool and early school-age children — 61.7 percent. Since chickenpox vaccination is not included in the National Immunization Schedule, most children develop immunity only after contracting the disease.
At a meeting chaired by Almaty City Health Department head Marat Pashimov, the issue was discussed separately. Deputy Head of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Department, Asal Kalykova, noted that there are still opportunities to increase vaccination coverage among children and adolescents.
She stated that efforts to encourage the population to get vaccinated must be strengthened. It was also noted that some private clinics do not fully fulfill their obligations under the state free medical assistance program. Therefore, work will be intensified to ensure their active participation.
Experts remind that although chickenpox may seem like a mild disease, its complications can be severe. Therefore, if symptoms such as fever, rash, or itching appear, parents are advised to immediately take the child to a doctor.
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