Prevalence of childhood exanthematic disease antibodies in paramedical students: Need of vaccination

The immunity to common childhood exanthematic diseases such as varicella, rubella, mumps and measles was evaluated in 1,024 students of the degree courses of health professions at Padua University Medical School. Subjects were subdivided according to gender and age (25 years old or less, and older than 25 years). Results showed that the prevalence of positive antibodies (IgG) to varicella and rubella (94.1 and 94.5%, respectively) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than mumps (78.6%) and measles (86.3%). In addition, measles showed a significant higher prevalence than mumps (p<0.001). Prevalence of positive antibodies to rubella in females (97.4%) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than males (87.5%), but only if aged 25 years or less. Furthermore, males older than 25 years, were significantly more immune (p<0.001) to measles (93.0%) than younger ones (84.3%). A vaccination strategy was applied but compliance was less than 50%; in addition, about 40.0% of vaccinated subjects eluded control after vaccination. Seroconversion after vaccine appeared high for rubella, mumps and measles (92.3, 88.9 and 88.1%, respectively), but low for varicella (43.8%).