Chickenpox medical therapy

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

There is no definitive treatment for chicken pox, supportive treatment to minimize discomfort and pruritus. Anti-viral therapy with acyclovir and valcyclovir is beneficial if given within the first 24hrs of the appearance of the rash.

Medical Therapy

Symptomatic treatment

Mild sodium bicarbonate baths, antihistamine medication to help ease itching
Acetaminophen to reduce fever.
Ibuprofen
ASPIRIN MUST NOT BE GIVEN to children with chickenpox to avoid potentially fatal Reye's Syndrome. ^[1]^[2]
Maintaining adequate hydration
Intravenous Immunoglobulin therapy is also considered in pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and newborns who are not vaccinated.

Anti-viral Therapy

Anti-viral therapy with acyclovir and valcyclovir is beneficial if given within the first 24hrs of the appearance of the rash.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Medications to avoid

References

↑ US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Varicella Treatment Questions & Answers". CDC Guidelines. CDC. Retrieved 2007-8-23. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
↑ Somekh E, Dalal I, Shohat T, Ginsberg GM, Romano O (2002). "The burden of uncomplicated cases of chickenpox in Israel". J. Infect. 45 (1): 54–7. PMID 12217733.
↑ "A Controlled Trial of Acyclovir for Chickenpox in Normal Children — NEJM".
↑ Wallace MR, Bowler WA, Murray NB, Brodine SK, Oldfield EC (1992). "Treatment of adult varicella with oral acyclovir. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial". Ann. Intern. Med. 117 (5): 358–63. PMID 1323943.
↑ Kechagia IA, Kalantzi L, Dokoumetzidis A (2015). "Extrapolation of Valacyclovir Posology to Children Based on Pharmacokinetic Modeling". Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 34 (12): 1342–8. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000000910. PMID 26379165.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[1] US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Varicella Treatment Questions & Answers". CDC Guidelines. CDC. Retrieved 2007-8-23. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

[2] Somekh E, Dalal I, Shohat T, Ginsberg GM, Romano O (2002). "The burden of uncomplicated cases of chickenpox in Israel". J. Infect. 45 (1): 54–7. PMID 12217733.

[urlA_Controlled_Trial_of_Acyclovir_for_Chickenpox_in_Normal_Children_—_NEJM-3] "A Controlled Trial of Acyclovir for Chickenpox in Normal Children — NEJM".

[pmid1323943-4] Wallace MR, Bowler WA, Murray NB, Brodine SK, Oldfield EC (1992). "Treatment of adult varicella with oral acyclovir. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial". Ann. Intern. Med. 117 (5): 358–63. PMID 1323943.

[pmid26379165-5] Kechagia IA, Kalantzi L, Dokoumetzidis A (2015). "Extrapolation of Valacyclovir Posology to Children Based on Pharmacokinetic Modeling". Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J. 34 (12): 1342–8. doi:10.1097/INF.0000000000000910. PMID 26379165.

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