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Therapy of Herpes Virus Infections in Children

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Hot Topics in Infection and Immunity in Children IV

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 609))

Rapid advances have been achieved in the therapy of herpes virus infections of children over the past 25 years. Following the demonstration that vidarabine was an efficacious treatment for neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, herpes simplex encephalitis, and varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections of children, significant advances were achieved with the development of second generation anti-viral drugs. The second generation anti-viral drug, namely acyclovir, and, subsequently, valacyclovir and famciclovir, now provide both efficacious as well as safe anti-viral therapy for a variety of herpes virus infections. More recently, the demonstration that ganciclovir proved efficacious for the treatment of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections provides impetus for improving therapeutics for the most common congenital infection of humans. The therapeutic advances achieved in the management of neonatal HSV infection, herpes simplex encephalitis, VZV infections of the normal and immunocompromised host, and congenital CMV infection will be summarized in this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology, Medicine, and Neurosurgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, CHB 303, 1600-Seventh Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233

    Richard J. Whitley

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  1. Institute of Child Life and Health UBHT Education Centre, University of Bristol, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8AE, UK

    Adam Finn

  2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Level 4, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Andrew J. Pollard

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Whitley, R.J. (2008). Therapy of Herpes Virus Infections in Children. In: Finn, A., Pollard, A.J. (eds) Hot Topics in Infection and Immunity in Children IV. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 609. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73960-1_16

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