Since January 1993 till January 1999 at KDIN in Brno 16 children were followed up with frequent extensive eruptions of mucocutaneous herpes simplex, who were administered a suppressive dose of acyclovirus (ACV) for a period of 6 months. The children were checked every months clinical and laboratory examinations, in case of a new manifestation of morpha more frequently. Six children developed during ACV suppressive therapy only prodromal symptoms of herpes virus infection (mild burning or reddening at the site of previous eruptions) but without further progression of herpetic morphae. The remaining children had during the period of ACV administration no eruptions of herpetic morphae. After discontinuation of ACV within 1 - 4 weeks in 12 children herpetic morphae reappeared, the extent of eruptions was however reduced. In all 16 children subsequently the frequency of eruptions caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) declined to 1 - 2 eruptions within 4 - 6 months, however the extent of the affection diminished considerably. The paper indicates the possibility and effectiveness of suppressive administration of oral ACV to reduce the extent and frequency of eruptions of HSV infections in children.

        Key words: acyclovir, virus of herpes simplex