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Letter
Variation in practice remains in the UK management of varicella postexposure prophylaxis in children with cancer
  1. Katharine Jarrold1,
  2. Jessica Bate2
  1. 1 Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, St George’s, University of London, London, UK
  2. 2 Department of Paediatric Oncology, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Jessica Bate, Department of Paediatric Oncology, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; jessica.bate1{at}nhs.net

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Exposure to varicella and its potential to cause significant morbidity and treatment delays remain a concern in children with cancer. In 2002, national guidance introduced oral aciclovir as an alternative form of varicella postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to varicella zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG), as recommended by Public Health England (PHE).1 2 A survey of UK paediatric oncology centres identified almost half of children requiring PEP receive VZIG while the remainder receive oral aciclovir, motivated by unit preference and anecdotal experience.3

An online survey was distributed to all 21 UK paediatric oncology centres in February 2018 to …

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Footnotes

  • Contributors KJ and JB cowrote and analysed the data.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent Not required.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.

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