Phase III Randomized Study of Oral Acyclovir in Infants With Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Limited to Skin, Eyes, and Mouth

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the efficacy of long term suppressive therapy with oral acyclovir in infants with herpes simplex virus infection limited to skin, eyes, and mouth. II. Determine the neurologic outcome in these patients when treated with this regimen. III. Evaluate the significance of a positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result when all other CSF parameters remain normal in these patients. IV. Correlate the time to first positive CSF PCR result in the first 12 months of life with clinical neurological assessment in these patients when treated with this regimen. V. Determine whether the continuous administration of this drug suppresses recurrent skin lesions in these patients. VI. Determine the safety of this regimen in these patients.