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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staff
Medications
While no specific treatment exists for most viral hemorrhagic fevers, the antiviral drug ribavirin (Virazole, Rebetol) may help shorten the course of infection and prevent complications in some cases.
Therapy
Supportive care is essential. To prevent dehydration, you may need fluids to help maintain your balance of electrolytes — minerals that are critical to nerve and muscle function.
Surgical and other procedures
Some people may benefit from kidney dialysis, an artificial way of cleaning wastes from your blood when your kidneys fail.
- Bell M. Viral hemorrhagic fevers. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/206119449-3/1014371662/1492/1348.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50409-2_16895. Accessed June 11, 2010.
- Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF): Current, comprehensive information on pathogenesis, microbiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/bt/vhf/biofacts/vhffactsheet.html. Accessed June 11, 2010.
- Viral hemorrhagic fevers: Fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/vhf.htm. Accessed June 11, 2010.
- Farnon EC, et al. Viral hemorrhagic fevers. 2010 Yellow Book. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-5/viral-hemorrhagic-fevers.aspx. Accessed June 11, 2010.
- Peters CJ. What are VHFs and how can we respond medically? In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00327-1&uniq=205678381&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&sid=1012990473#lpState=opened&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00327-1--s0020%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-443-06839-3. Accessed June 14, 2010.
- Zielinski-Gutierrez E, et al. Protection against mosquitoes, ticks and other insects and arthropods. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2010/chapter-2/protection-against-mosquitoes-ticks-insects-arthropods.aspx. Accessed June 17, 2010.
- Clean up rodent food sources and nesting sites. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/rodents/prevent_infestations/clean_up.html. Accessed June 17, 2010.
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