Chickenpox, Adults
- Notify Public Health, or Infection Prevention & Control if hospitalized.
- For contact prophylaxis recommendations, see Prophylaxis for Contacts of Communicable Diseases.
Immunocompetent
Most benefit if initiate therapy within 24 hours of rash onset.
Recommend treatment, even if started later than 24 hours, in:
pneumonia or other visceral involvement (treat x 10 days)
pregnancy. Safety of acyclovir in pregnancy not fully established. Potential benefit vs. potential risk to the fetus should be discussed with the patient. Acyclovir has been used at all stages of pregnancy; no adverse effects to the fetus/newborn have been reported to date.
Varicella zoster
| Therapy | Dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Famciclovir | 500mg PO tid | 5 days |
| or | ||
| Valacyclovir | 1g PO tid | 5 days |
| or | ||
| Acyclovir | 800mg PO qid | 5 days |
Immunocompromised
Usual PathogensVaricella zoster
| Therapy | Dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Famciclovir | 500mg PO tid | 7-10 days |
| or | ||
| Valacyclovir | 1g PO tid | 7-10 days |
| or | ||
| Acyclovir | 800mg PO qid | 7-10 days |
Severe
| Therapy | Dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Acyclovir | 10mg/kg IV q8h | 7-10 days |