PEDIATRICS Vol. 91 No. 3 March 1993, pp. 674-676
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Search for Related Content

The Use of Oral Acyclovir in Otherwise Healthy Children With Varicella

Committee on Infectious Diseases

Oral acyclovir therapy initiated within 24 hours of illness for otherwise healthy children with varicella typically will result in a 1-day reduction of fever and approximately a 15% to 30% reduction in the severity of cutaneous and systemic signs and symptoms. Therapy has not been shown to reduce the rate of acute complications, pruritus, spread of infection, or duration of absence from school. Its long-term effect on the rate of occurrence of zoster is unknown. To date, no significant adverse effects of oral acyclovir therapy in otherwise healthy children have been demonstrated. In adults, delay of therapy beyond the first 24 hours of illness results in loss of therapeutic effect.22 The cost-benefit ratio of therapy is currently unknown, and its determination is extremely complex.

Submitted on December 4, 1992
Accepted on December 4, 1992




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br. J. Ophthalmol.Home page
N. MOINFAR, D. G WAGNER, G. A CHROUSOS, H. P CUPPLES, and M. KEYS
Paediatric varicella choroiditis
Br. J. Ophthalmol., September 1, 1998; 82(9): 1090c - 1090.
[Full Text]