Smallpox medical therapy
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Smallpox Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Smallpox medical therapy On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Smallpox medical therapy |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Smallpox medical therapy |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]
Overview
There is no antiviral treatment for smallpox virus. In case of disease, it is only possible to manage the well being of the patient, hydrate and administer certain drugs to treat concomitant bacterial or viral infections.
Medical Therapy
Currently, there is no cure for small pox. The main for of therapy is to keep the patient comfortable throughout infection. It is possible for the patient to make a full and healthy recovery because the mortality rate is approximately 30%. Many times a patient will receive IV fluids to remain hydrated. Medications that treat symptoms such as fever can be used. It is also likely that the patient will be in a great deal of pain, therefore pain killers are a part of the typical treatment. Some patients with smallpox develop secondary bacterial infections. Antibiotics for these secondary infections can be prescribed as well. Good nursing care will be very beneficial to the patients physical and mental well being.