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Spread of varicella‐zoster virus DNA to the environment from varicella patients who were treated with oral acyclovir
Author(s) -
Suzuki Kyoko,
Yoshikawa Tetsushi,
Ihira Masaru,
Ohashi Masahiro,
Suga Sadao,
Asano Yoshizo
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1046/j.1442-200x.2003.01746.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chickenpox , varicella zoster virus , virus , varicella vaccine , throat , disease , polymerase chain reaction , virology , pediatrics , immunology , surgery , immunization , antibody , biology , gene , biochemistry
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine the degree of spread of varicella‐zoster virus to the environment (VZV) from varicella patients who received oral acyclovir treatment.Methods: Over a period of 8 months, seven healthy children (two girls and five boys, 23−64 months of age) with varicella who visited Fujita Health University School of Medicine were treated with routine doses of oral acyclovir (ACV) for 5 days, commencing within 24 h after onset of the disease. Swab samples from the throats of patients and their family members as well as from air purifier filters in their houses were collected for 7 days as frequently as possible after starting treatment for the disease. The VZV DNA in the samples was identified by a sensitive polymerase chain reaction amplification assay.Results: The VZV DNA was detected in 33−100% of throat swab samples from varicella patients by day 7 of the disease, in 17−32% of throat swab samples from family members by day 4 and in 29% of filters from air purifiers by day 3.Conclusions: The results suggest a broad spread of VZV, probably by the airborne route, from the patients with varicella even after the administration of oral ACV.