What medication is used to treat eczema herpeticum?

Eczema herpeticum, which is a superinfection of herpes simplex virus in areas of skin affected by atopic dermatitis (eczema), is primarily treated with antiviral medications. Acyclovir is an antiviral drug effective against herpes viruses, making it the appropriate choice for treating eczema herpeticum. It works by inhibiting viral replication, thus reducing the duration and severity of the infection.

While topical steroids are often used to manage inflammation in eczema, they are not effective against viral infections like herpes. Oral antihistamines are used to relieve itching but do not have any antiviral properties. Systemic antibiotics are indicated for bacterial infections and are not appropriate for treating a viral infection such as eczema herpeticum. This is why acyclovir is recognized as the standard treatment in this scenario, providing the necessary action to combat the herpes virus effectively.