title: Oral acyclovir therapy for varicella and zoster infections in pediatric and pregnant patients: a brief review.
abstract: Oral acyclovir recently was approved for the treatment of herpes zoster and has been shown to be effective in the treatment of varicella. Studies of the use of high-dose oral acyclovir in the management of varicella-zoster infections in immunocompetent pediatric patients are reviewed. Guidelines are provided for the drug's use in immunocompetent children and adolescents, pregnant patients, and pediatric atopic patients receiving systemic steroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rothe
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Feder
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Grant-Kels
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000212:Acyclovir