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Comparison of Acyclovir and Vidarabine in Immunocomtxomised Children with Varicella‐Zoster virus Infection
Author(s) -
Kunitomi Taiji,
Akazai Ayumi,
Ikeda Masanori,
Oda Megumi,
Kodani Nobuyuki
Publication year - 1989
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 - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1989.tb01383.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vidarabine , prednisolone , chickenpox , varicella zoster virus , aciclovir , virology , dermatology , virus , gastroenterology , chemotherapy , viral disease , herpesviridae , fludarabine , cyclophosphamide
Intravenous acyclovir and vidarabine were compared in the treatment of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) infection in 25 immunocompromised children ‐ 13 with acute lymphocytic leukemia, three with other types of cancer, two with immunodeficiency and in seven undergoing prednisolone treatment. Thirteen had varicella and 12 had herpes zoster. Acyclovir was given intravenously to five patients with varicella and to four with herpes zoster at a dose of 5–10 mg/kg every eight hours. Vidarabine was given intravenously to eight patients with varicella and to eight with herpes zoster at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. In varicella, vidarabine significantly shortened the time from the start of treatment to cessation of new lesion formation compared with acyclovir. However, there was no significant difference in time to complete crusting between the two treatments. In herpes zoster, acyclovir significantly shortened the time from the onset of the skin lesions to complete crusting. A slight raise of GOT in two cases was reported. While acyclovir and vidarabine were equally effective for VZV infection, in herpes zoster acyclovir was more effective.