Treatment of herpes simplex virus infections

Active Ingredient: Aciclovir

Indication for Aciclovir

Population group: only newborns (0 - 40 days old) , infants (40 days - 1 year old)

Aciclovir is indicated for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections of the skin and mucous membranes including initial and recurrent genital herpes (excluding neonatal HSV and severe HSV infections in immunocompromised children).

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

5 applications daily

Route of admnistration

Cutaneous

Defined daily dose

5 {spreads}

Dosage regimen

1 {spreads} 5 time(s) per day every day for 5 day(s)

Detailed description

Cream should be applied five times daily at approximately four hourly intervals, omitting the night time application. Treatment should be continued for at least 4 days for herpes labialis and for 5 days for genital herpes. If healing has not occurred then treatment may be continued for up to an additional 5 days.

15-20 mg/kg every 8 hours for 10 days

Route of admnistration

Intravenous

Defined daily dose

60 mg per kg of body weight

Dosage regimen

20 mg per kg of body weight 3 time(s) per day every day for 14 day(s)

Detailed description

10 mg/kg infused at a constant rate over 1 hour, every 8 hours for 10 days. In neonatal herpes simplex infections, doses of 15 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg (infused at a constant rate over 1 hour every 8 hours) have been used; the safety and efficacy of these doses are not known.

20 mg/kg bodyweight

Route of admnistration

Oral

Defined daily dose

80 mg per kg of body weight

Dosage regimen

20 mg per kg of body weight 4 time(s) per day every day for 5 day(s)

Detailed description

Children aged two years and over should be given adult dosages and children below the age of two years should be given half the adult dose.

Treatment of varicella infection:

  • Under 2 years: 200mg four times daily.
  • Treatment should continue for five days.

Dosing may be more accurately calculated as 20 mg/kg bodyweight (not to exceed 800 mg) four times daily.

No specific data are available on the suppression of herpes simplex infections or the treatment of herpes zoster infections in immunocompetent children.

Active ingredient

Aciclovir

Acyclovir is an antiviral agent with activity against herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus. Acyclovir inhibits the DNA polymerase of the virus, preventing further proliferation.

Read more about Aciclovir

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