Table 1

Characteristics of randomised controlled trials comparing acyclovir to placebo among immunocompetent children

Study

Number of participants

Age Range (mean)

Acyclovir protocol

Outcomes

Quality

Total

Per group

Jadad Score

Allocation Concealment

Balfour 1990

102

50 – acyclovir

50 – placebo

5–16 years (8.1)

5–7 years: 20 mg/kg

7–12 years: 15 mg/kg

12–16 years: 10 mg/kg

4x/days for 5-7 days

• Days to fever, crusting, no

new lesions, maximum number

of lesions, decrease in number

of lesions and cessation of

itching

• Maximum number of lesions

4

Unclear

Dunkle 1991

815

408 – acyclovir

407 – placebo

2–12 years (5.2)

20 mg/kg 4×/day for 5 days

• Maximum number of lesions

• Number with >500 lesions

• Residual lesions at day 28

3

Unclear

Balfour 1992

62

31 – acyclovir

31 – placebo

13–18 years (14.8)

800 mg 4×/day for 5 days

• Days to maximum number of

lesions and cessation of

itching

• Maximum number of lesions

• Residual lesions at day 28

3

Unclear

Klassen et al. BMC Pediatrics 2002 2:9   doi:10.1186/1471-2431-2-9