When is oral acyclovir treatment appropriate for someone with varicella?
Oral acyclovir therapy is not routinely recommended by the AAP for otherwise healthy children experiencing uncomplicated cases of varicella. Certain groups at increased risk of developing severe disease should be considered for oral acyclovir therapy. These high risk groups include: healthy, nonpregnant persons 13 years and older; children older than 12 months with chronic cutaneous or pulmonary disorder and those receiving long-term salicylate therapy; children receiving short, intermittent or aerosolized courses of corticosteroids (data are lacking but acyclovir may be considered for this group); some physicians may elect to use oral acyclovir for secondary cases within a household. For maximum benefit, oral acyclovir therapy should be initiated within the first 24 hours after rash onset. For more information, visit the following site: http://www.aap.org/family/chckpox.
