MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Chickenpox treatment

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Chickenpox treatment

Contents of this page:
Illustrations	Information

Illustrations

Chickenpox - lesions on the chest

Chickenpox - lesion on the leg

Chicken pox

Information Return to top

Question:
Can chickenpox be treated?

Answer:
Yes. A prescription drug called acyclovir has been approved by the FDA for use in treating the symptoms of chickenpox in people older than 2 years. The drug should help reduce the severity of chickenpox symptoms, especially in older children and teenagers, if taken within 24 hours of the rash's first appearance.

This drug is generally only used in severe cases of chickenpox and in patients who are immunosuppressed (such as cancer patients, transplant recipients, etc.).

Update Date: 5/21/2003

Updated by: Elizabeth Hait, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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