Comparison of specific immunities to varicella-zoster virus following post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella by oral acyclovir observed in a family.
An otherwise healthy 3-year-old girl developed severe varicella complicated by aseptic meningitis and received intravenous acyclovir (ACV) therapy. Her two siblings who were susceptible to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and closely exposed to VZV in the family received oral ACV (45 or 54 mg/kg per day in four divided doses for 7 days) starting 8 days after onset of the index case for post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella. They showed only five or seven papules over the body without fever 12 days after onset of the index case, while they had one-third or half the level of antibody titer and equal sized skin reactions to VZV antigen of the index case 2.5 months later.
Asano
Y
Y
Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.
Suga
S
S
Yoshikawa
T
T
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000150:complications
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir