Key result
Antiviral treatment showed no clear indications of altering the natural history of chickenpox pneumonia among 13 patients, with 3 deaths and 6 serious secondary infections overall.
Why the study?
Does antiviral treatment alter the natural history of chickenpox pneumonia in affected patients?
Observational (n=13)
Does antiviral treatment alter the natural history of chickenpox pneumonia in affected patients?
Antiviral treatment with acyclovir or vidarabine did not clearly alter the natural history of chickenpox pneumonia, possibly due to late administration.
Antiviral use should not yet change practice in chickenpox pneumonia; leaves open questions on timing or agents for prospective study.
Of 13 patients with chickenpox pneumonia (12 of them adults) treated during 1979-87, 10 received antiviral drugs--nine acyclovir and one vidarabine. Three died despite intensive treatment. Serious secondary infections occurred in six cases. There were no clear indications that antiviral treatment altered the natural history of the condition. Acyclovir may at present be used too late in the course of chickenpox pneumonia to alter its outcome.
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Davidson et al. (1988) conducted an observational in Chickenpox pneumonia (n=13). Antiviral drugs (acyclovir or vidarabine) was evaluated on Mortality and alteration of natural history. Antiviral treatment showed no clear indications of altering the natural history of chickenpox pneumonia among 13 patients, with 3 deaths and 6 serious secondary infections overall.
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