Comparison of Prophylactic Acyclovir and Placebo in Prevention of Eczema Herpeticum in Pediatric Burns

Materials and Methods Study design: Randomised control trial. Setting: Pediatric burn unit Mayo hospital Lahore Duration: 1st October 2019 to 30th September 2020. Data collection procedure: All the patients were managed with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, antipyretics and hydrocolloid dressing as per ward routine management protocol along with prophylactic acyclovir and placebo. On the zero day of admission, after parents provided informed consent, patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups using a computer-generated table. Group A patients were given intra venous acyclovir divided into three doses for 7 to 14 days during their stay. Group B patients were given 15% intravenous Hypertonic sodium chloride divided into three doses as placebo for 7 to 14 days, so that parents could be blinded to group allocation. Patients were observed for developing signs of eczema Herpeticum and Tzanck smear was done every 10th day and first follow up at outpatient department after 7days of discharge.

• age 1 month to ≤ 13 years .10 to 60 percent total body surface area (TBSA) burn.
• 2nd and 3rd degree burn Exclusion Criteria

• Patients having previous history of skin disease.
• Patients having any Comorbidity e.g. Psoriasis, asthma, atopic dermatitis and conjunctivitis.
• Immunocompromised patients.
• Patients on steroids or chemotherapy.
• Patients already having eczema Herpeticum and positive baseline Tzanck smear