Oral BVDU treatment of varicella and zoster in children with cancer.

In the period June 1980-April 1983, 21 children with malignant disease 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.