Oral BVDU treatment of varicella and zoster in children with cancer

Abstract

In the period June 1980–April 1983, 21 children with malignant discase were admitted because of an intercurrent varicella or zoster infection. They were treated with the new antiviral drug BVDU [(E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine]. The drug was administered orally at a dose of 15 mg/kg per day for 5 days. All our patients responded promptly to BVDU treatment and recovered completely from their varicella or zoster infections without complications. No toxic side-effects due to the drug were observed.