{ "schema_version": 1, "kind": "condition", "id": "chickenpox", "name": "Varicella (chickenpox)", "category": "infectious", "sources": "NICE CKS Chickenpox 2021 · MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 (acyclovir monograph)", "review_status": "reviewed", "verified_against": "MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral) · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 (acyclovir monograph) · Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chickenpox) - disease-level clinical article (chickenpox-clinical.txt)", "verified_date": "2026-08", "treatments": [ { "id": 412, "generic": "Paracetamol", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": "oral.solid", "strength_mg": 500.0, "adult_dose": "1 g 3 or 4 times daily (max. 4 g daily)", "adult_duration": null, "dose_source": "MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral)", "rationale": "Antipyretic and analgesic used for fever and discomfort in chickenpox; chosen over an NSAID such as ibuprofen, which is avoided here because of its association with severe secondary skin and soft-tissue infection.", "cautions": [ "STRICTLY AVOID NSAIDs (ibuprofen) in chickenpox due to risk of necrotizing soft tissue infections.", "Do not exceed maximum daily paracetamol dose (hepatotoxicity risk).", "Keep child isolated until all vesicles have crusted over.", "500 mg is the per-dose ceiling used here for a child. 1000 mg is the adult dose and does not belong in a weight calculation - the daily 60 mg/kg limit is the one that binds first in any case.", "Administer with caution to patients with hepatic impairment." ], "peds_mgkg_low": 15.0, "peds_mgkg_high": 15.0, "peds_max_mg": 500.0, "peds_basis": "dose", "peds_unit": "mg", "peds_note": "15 mg/kg per dose every 4-6 hours (max 60 mg/kg/day) Under 1 month: 10 mg/kg 3 or 4 times daily, maximum 40 mg/kg/day (MSF Essential Drugs 2024).", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": [ { "weight_kg": 10, "low_mg": 150, "high_mg": 150, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 20, "low_mg": 300, "high_mg": 300, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 30, "low_mg": 450, "high_mg": 450, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 40, "low_mg": 500, "high_mg": 500, "capped": true } ], "brands": [ { "trade_name": "FEBRIMOL 500 MG 20 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHARCO", "price_egp": 3.5, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 0.17, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "CETAMOL 500 MG 20 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MEMPHIS", "price_egp": 8.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 0.4, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PARACETAMOL-MUP 500MG B.P. 20 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MUP", "price_egp": 13.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 0.65, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "CETAL 500 MG 20 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EIPICO", "price_egp": 24.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 1.2, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ARKADOLOW 500 MG 30 F.C. TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "UTOPIA", "price_egp": 42.0, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 1.4, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "PARAMOL 500MG 20 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MISR", "price_egp": 38.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 1.9, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ADOL 500MG 24 CAPLETS", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "JULPHAR", "price_egp": 32.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "AUGICETAMIDE 500 MG 20 SACHETS", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "AUG PHARMA", "price_egp": 50.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 500.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FEBRIMOL ORAL DROPS 20 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHARCO", "price_egp": 4.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": null, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "THERA-LO 3.2G/100ML ORAL SUSP. 100 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHAROPHARMA", "price_egp": 5.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 3200.0, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null } ], "condition_id": "chickenpox" }, { "id": 414, "generic": "Referral & safety-netting (no drug therapy)", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": null, "strength_mg": null, "adult_dose": null, "adult_duration": null, "dose_source": "Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chickenpox) - disease-level clinical article (chickenpox-clinical.txt)", "rationale": "Carries the referral criteria and warning signs for this condition, which apply whichever treatment is chosen.", "cautions": [ "RED FLAG - Avoid aspirin in children due to the risk of Reye syndrome.", "RED FLAG - Passive prophylaxis with varicella zoster immune globulin is used for high-risk nonimmune populations (pregnant women, immunocompromised, high-risk neonates)." ], "peds_mgkg_low": null, "peds_mgkg_high": null, "peds_max_mg": null, "peds_basis": null, "peds_unit": null, "peds_note": null, "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": null, "brands": [], "condition_id": "chickenpox" }, { "id": 413, "generic": "Acyclovir", "line": 2, "is_adjunct": false, "form": "oral.solid", "strength_mg": 800.0, "adult_dose": "800 mg orally 5 times daily (every 4 hours while awake)", "adult_duration": "≥5 to 7 days and until all lesions have crusted", "dose_source": "Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 (acyclovir monograph)", "rationale": "Antiviral that inhibits varicella-zoster viral DNA replication, shortening the course and reducing complications; reserved for those at higher risk of severe disease such as adults, adolescents, and the immunocompromised, rather than used routinely in healthy young children.", "cautions": [ "Indicated for immunocompromised patients, severe cases, or adults/adolescents.", "Start within 24 hours of rash onset for maximum clinical benefit.", "Ensure adequate hydration during oral aciclovir therapy.", "CrCl 10 to 25 mL/minute/1.73 m2: If the usual recommended dose is 800 mg 5 times daily: Administer 800 mg every 8 hours" ], "peds_mgkg_low": 20.0, "peds_mgkg_high": 20.0, "peds_max_mg": 800.0, "peds_basis": "dose", "peds_unit": "mg", "peds_note": "20 mg/kg 4 times daily (maximum 80 mg/kg daily) for 5 days in those weighing ≤40 kg and 800 mg 4 times daily for 5 days in those weighing >40 kg", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": [ { "weight_kg": 10, "low_mg": 200, "high_mg": 200, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 20, "low_mg": 400, "high_mg": 400, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 30, "low_mg": 600, "high_mg": 600, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 40, "low_mg": 800, "high_mg": 800, "capped": false } ], "brands": [ { "trade_name": "VIRUSTAT 800MG 35 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHAROPHARMA", "price_egp": 266.0, "pack_count": 35, "unit_price": 7.6, "strength_mg": 800.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ACIVIRAX 800MG 20 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MASH PREMIERE", "price_egp": 154.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 7.7, "strength_mg": 800.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "LOVIR 800 MG 35 ORAL DISP. TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "SUN PHARMA EGYPT LIMITED", "price_egp": 300.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 800.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "BORGAVIRAX 200MG/5ML SUSP. 125 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "BORG", "price_egp": 61.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 200.0, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "VIRUSTAT 200MG/5ML SUSP. 120 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHAROPHARMA", "price_egp": 61.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 200.0, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null } ], "condition_id": "chickenpox" } ] }