Viral Hemorrhagic Fever: Drug Therapy

Therapeutic targets

  • Symptom relief
  • Elimination of the pathogens (as far as possible).
  • Avoidance of complications (as far as possible)

Therapy recommendations

  • Intensive care to support vital functions (circulatory, respiratory).
  • Symptomatic therapy (analgesics), antipyretics (antipyretic drugs)) including rehydration (fluid balance).
  • Virostasis (use of antivirals as far as possible):
    • Crimean-Congo fever – effective given early in individual cases.
    • Lassa fever – onset max. on day 6; duration of therapy 10 d.
      • Postexposure prophylaxis in Lassa fever – if Lassa infection is clear.
    • Dengue fever, consider virostasis if kidney problems.
  • West Nile virus, consider interferon alpha.
  • Prevention of secondary infections, e.g. pneumonia (antibiosis/antibiotic therapy).