Acyclovir for treating varicella in otherwise healthy children and adolescents: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Acyclovir has the potential to shorten the course of chickenpox which may result in reduced costs and morbidity. We conducted a systematic review of randomised controlled trials that evaluated acyclovir for the treatment of chickenpox in otherwise healthy children.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched. The reference lists of relevant articles were examined and primary authors and Glaxo Wellcome were contacted to identify additional trials. Two reviewers independently screened studies for inclusion, assessed study quality using the Jadad scale and allocation concealment, and extracted data. Continuous data were converted to a weighted mean difference (WMD). Overall estimates were not calculated due to differences in the age groups studied

SUBMITTER: Klassen TP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC130054 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature