Antiviral therapy of varicella in normal children

Intraveinous aciclovir therapy is recommended for immunocompromised patient s. Oral aciclovir given to healthy children with varicella result in a mode st decrease of magnitude and duration of fever and in the number and durati on of skin lesions. Oral aciclovir should be considered for healthy childre n at increase risk of severe varicella, such as those younger than 1 year a nd older than 10 years, those with chronic cutaneous and pulmonary disorder s, those receiving salicylate therapy and persons receiving intermittent, s hort or aerosolized course of corticosteroids. Some physicians could consid ere use of oral aciclovir in secondary household cases. Studies on prophyla xis with aciclovir after contact are insuffisant and more data are needed t o discuss efficiency.