PEDIATRICS Vol. 89 No. 3 March 1992, pp. 379-383
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Prophylactic Oral Acyclovir in Outbreaks of Primary Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection in a Closed Community

Kiyotaka Kuzushima MD1, Toyoichiro Kudo MD1, Hiroshi Kimura MD1, Shinji Kido MD1, Naoki Hanada MD1, Motohiro Shibata MD1, Kazuo Nishikawa MD1, and Tsuneo Morishima MD1

1 From the Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University, School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan

Oral acyclovir was given prophylactically to 37 children in the early stages of three outbreaks of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection and the results were compared with those in untreated control subjects in two other outbreaks. The rates of seroconversion to HSV were significantly reduced in children treated with acyclovir compared with control subjects (91% vs 27%, P < .001). The incidence of symptomatic disease was also significantly reduced (82% vs 0%, P < .001). In some children receiving prophylactic acyclovir, anti-HSV antibody titers did not rise despite the presence of replicative HSV on throat swabs just before the start of treatment. Restriction endonuclease analysis of isolated HSV-DNA confirmed that one strain was responsible for the five outbreaks. No resistance to acyclovir was detected during the study, and no adverse effects of treatment were noted. In conclusion, short-term prophylactic acyclovir may limit the spread and reduce clinical manifestations of HSV infections in closed communities, although this use should be restricted to communities where severe symptoms are observed.

Key Words: herpes simplex virus type 1 • oral acyclovir prophylaxis • day-care center

Submitted on November 12, 1990
Accepted on February 5, 1991




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J. Amir, L. Harel, Z. Smetana, and I. Varsano
Treatment of herpes simplex gingivostomatitis with aciclovir in children: a randomised double blind placebo controlled study
BMJ, June 21, 1997; 314(7097): 1800 - 1800.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

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ACYCLOVIR PROPHYLAXIS IN HERPES SIMPLEX OUTBREAKS
Journal Watch (General), March 24, 1992; 1992(324): 5 - 5.
[Full Text]