Comparison of specific immunities to varicella-zoster virus following post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella by oral acyclovir observed in a family

Acta Paediatr Jpn. 1996 Dec;38(6):692-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1996.tb03734.x.

Abstract

An otherwise healthy 3-year-old girl developed severe varicella complicated by aseptic meningitis and received intravenous acyclovir (ACV) therapy. Her two siblings who were susceptible to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and closely exposed to VZV in the family received oral ACV (45 or 54 mg/kg per day in four divided doses for 7 days) starting 8 days after onset of the index case for post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella. They showed only five or seven papules over the body without fever 12 days after onset of the index case, while they had one-third or half the level of antibody titer and equal sized skin reactions to VZV antigen of the index case 2.5 months later.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acyclovir / administration & dosage*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Antibody Formation
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Chickenpox / genetics
  • Chickenpox / prevention & control*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Aseptic / complications

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Acyclovir