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How does supportive care help people with Ebola virus disease?
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Ebola
Numerous filamentous ebolavirus particles (blue) budding from a chronically-infected VERO E6 cell (yellow-green) in this digitally colorized scanning electron micrograph produced by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Supportive care is the primary treatment for Ebola virus disease and is essential for improving patient survival rates, especially when administered early.12
This approach focuses on stabilizing the patient’s condition and managing the severe complications caused by the virus through several key interventions:
- Fluid and Electrolyte Replacement: Patients receive fluids and electrolytes to address the severe dehydration and imbalances that often occur during the course of the infection.12
- Stabilization: Medical teams use medications to stabilize blood pressure, which is critical for maintaining organ function.12
- Symptom Management: Supportive care involves actively managing various complications as they arise to support the body while the immune system fights the virus.12
While supportive care remains the foundation of treatment, targeted antibody therapies, such as Inmazeb and Ebanga, are also used to reduce mortality in infections caused by the Zaire strain of the virus. Additionally, patients are isolated during treatment to prevent the further spread of the disease.12