title: Polish consensus guidelines on the use of acyclovir in the treatment and prevention of VZV and HSV infections.
abstract: A physician has to perform a benefit-risk assessment each time acyclovir is prescribed "off label" for children. A group of Polish infectious disease experts was created to develop evidence-based guidelines on the use of acyclovir in the treatment and prevention of varicella zoster and herpes simplex infections. In primary varicella zoster virus infections, oral acyclovir treatment is recommended in children over 12 years of age and should be considered in younger children who fall into one of the groups at risk of severe varicella. Intravenous acyclovir therapy in varicella is recommended in patients with immune deficiencies, newborns and in complicated cases. When there is a justified need for prevention of varicella, oral acyclovir prophylaxis may be considered if immunoglobulin cannot be administered, and if it is too late for vaccination. Oral acyclovir treatment of herpes zoster may be beneficial to otherwise healthy patients with a rash in places other than the trunk and in patients over 50 years of age. In immunocompetent patients with herpes simplex infections, indications for treatment with oral acyclovir include primary (genital herpes, skin herpes in children with atopic dermatitis, ocular herpes simplex, severe gingivostomatitis, paronychia and pharyngitis) and recurrent infections. Intravenous acyclovir should be administered for herpes infections in neonates, immunocompromised patients and patients who develop complications including neurological.
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Szenborn
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. Electronic address: barbara.kraszewska.glomba@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kraszewska-Głomba
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Bielański Hospital in Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jackowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duszczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Majda-Stanisławska
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marczyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Białystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ołdak
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, The Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawłowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Służewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wysocki
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Prophylaxis, Poznań University of Medical Sciences and Infectious Diseases Ward, Specialized Mother and Child Healthcare Centre in Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stryczyńska-Kazubska
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland; Department of Pediatrics and Observation Ward, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuchar
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D032921:Consensus; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000187:drug effects; D007223:Infant; D011044:Poland; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: Medication; Shingles; Varicella therapy