VARICELLA IN IMMUNOCOMPETENT CHILDREN IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF LIFE - ROLE OF TREATMENT WITH ORAL ACYCLOVIR

An open multicenter study has been carried out to evaluate efficacy an d tolerability of oral acyclovir in the treatment of varicella in immu nocompetent patients in the first two years of life. Fifty-three child ren aged 3-24 months received acyclovir at 80 mg/Kg/day in four divide d doses for 4 to 6 days; 24 of them were treated in the first 24 hours following disease onset, while the remaining 29 patients were enrolle d within 48 hours. The assessment of evolution of disease signs and sy mptoms showed a rapid resolution of fever, itching and other constitut ional symptoms, with interruption of vesicle formation and acceleratio n of cutaneous healing processes. No statistically significant differe nces have been demonstrated as to disease progression between patients treated in the first 24 hours, when compared with subjects receiving acyclovir in the following 24 hours. Acyclovir confirmed its excellent clinical and laboratory safety profile. By acting favorably on both t he duration and severity of disease signs and symptoms, acyclovir trea tment should be recommended in young children and infants with varicel la, since a higher incidence of severe and complicated disease has bee n observed in these patient groups.