Nipah virus encephalitis medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Medical Therapy

The distribution of these agents in their natural reservoirs will eventually define the geographic range of the threat the viruses pose. However, these viruses are recent discoveries, and much work remains to be done on their geographic distribution and the reservoir species. The occurrence of the disease in humans has been associated only with infection of an intermediate species such as horses with Hendra and swine with Nipah virus. Early recognition of the disease in the intermediate animal host is probably the most crucial means of limiting future human cases.

There have been many open label trials in which Ribavarin was found to reduce the mortality of acute Nipah virus encephalitis without any serious adverse effects^[1]^[2]. However, more data is required in recommending its use.

References

↑ Chong HT, Kamarulzaman A, Tan CT, Goh KJ, Thayaparan T, Kunjapan SR; et al. (2001). “Treatment of acute Nipah encephalitis with ribavirin”. Ann Neurol. 49 (6): 810–3. PMID 11409437.
↑ Tunkel AR, Glaser CA, Bloch KC, Sejvar JJ, Marra CM, Roos KL; et al. (2008). “The management of encephalitis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America”. Clin Infect Dis. 47 (3): 303–27. doi:10.1086/589747. PMID 18582201.

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[pmid11409437-1] Chong HT, Kamarulzaman A, Tan CT, Goh KJ, Thayaparan T, Kunjapan SR; et al. (2001). “Treatment of acute Nipah encephalitis with ribavirin”. Ann Neurol. 49 (6): 810–3. PMID 11409437.

[pmid18582201-2] Tunkel AR, Glaser CA, Bloch KC, Sejvar JJ, Marra CM, Roos KL; et al. (2008). “The management of encephalitis: clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America”. Clin Infect Dis. 47 (3): 303–27. doi:10.1086/589747. PMID 18582201.

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