Ebola medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Ebola is potentially lethal and since no approved vaccine or treatment is available. Treatment is primarily supportive and includes maintaining fluids and electrolytes homeostasis, adequate oxygen and blood levels and treating any complicating infections.[1] All patients with a confirmed or suspected viral hemorrhagic fever should be put in isolation and adequate contact precautions.[2]
Medical Therapy
Treatment is primarily supportive and includes:
- Minimizing invasive procedures
- Balancing electrolytes since patients are frequently dehydrated
- Replacing lost coagulation factors to help stop bleeding
- Maintaining oxygen and blood levels
- Treating any complicating infections.
Convalescent Plasma (factors from those who have survived Ebola infection) shows promise as a treatment for the disease. Ribavirin is ineffective. Interferon is also thought to be ineffective. In monkeys, administration of an inhibitor of coagulation (rNAPc2) has shown some benefit, protecting 33% of infected animals from a usually 100% (for monkeys) lethal infection (unfortunately this inoculation does not work on humans). In early 2006, scientists at USAMRIID announced a 75% recovery rate after infecting four rhesus monkeys with Ebola virus and administering antisense drugs.
References
- ↑ "Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Information Packet" (PDF).
- ↑ Feldmann H, Geisbert TW (2011). "Ebola haemorrhagic fever". Lancet. 377 (9768): 849–62. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60667-8. PMC 3406178. PMID 21084112.