4. Discussion
4.1. Summary of main findings
We have found that half of UK children acquire chickenpox by
age 3 and almost three quarters by age 5 based on maternal reporting.
The true prevalence estimates are likely to be even higher due
to under-reporting of sub-clinical or mild infections. Our findings
support the hypothesis that increased social contact with other
children, either in the household or through attendance at day care
nursery increases the risk of chickenpox, and that their influence
varies by age. Household contact with other children and day care
attendance appear to be more important in predicting risk of infection
by 3 years than between ages 3 and 5 years. We also found a
higher risk of infection by 5 years of age in children whose moth