Therapeutic approach to chickenpox in children and adults--our experience.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Chickenpox is highly contagious childhood disease which occurs as a result of varicella-zoster virus primary infection. Symptomatic therapy is usually adequate for chickenpox, but in some cases it requires combinations of antiviral drugs and antibiotics.

OBJECTIVES:

To present our expirience with chickenpox therapy in children and adult patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Study included 120 randomly chosen patients, 60 adults and 60 children, with confirmed chickenpox infection, hospitalised at Clinic for infectious diseases in Sarajevo. Observed period was 1st January 2005. to 30th June 2011. We compared used therapy and outcome of disease.

RESULTS:

We had 333 patients with confirmed chickenpox in mentioned period. Male sex prevailed. Antiviral (acyclovir) therapy was initiated in 8(13.5%) adults and 16(27%) children. Most frequently used antibiotic was Co-Amoxiclav in a group of adults and Ceftriaxone in a group of children.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:

We use different terapeutical approaches to chickenpox according to the severity of the clinical picture and the existence of underlying diseases. Symptomatic treatment is indicated in all immunocompetent patients with no signs of complications. Use of corticosteroids remains open dillemma. Our therapeutical approcach followed by actual guidelines proved to be usefull. No death cases were recorded in these

• Authors: Rusmir Baljic, Snjezana Mehanic, Bilal Imsirovic, Aida Ahmetspahic-Begic, Enra Lukovac, Izet Baljic, Selma Hasimbegovic-Ibrahimovic, Belma Gazibera, Maho Gutosic
• Journal: Medical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) (Med Arch) Vol. 66 Issue 3 Suppl 1 Pg. 21-3 ( 2012) ISSN: 0350-199X [Print] Bosnia and Herzegovina
• PMID: 22937685 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (administration & dosage)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage)
• Chickenpox (drug therapy)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Young Adult