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I am Informed that there isn't an antibiotic that works.

2006-11-09 08:08:50 · 2 answers · asked by monicatiekie 1 in Health Diseases & Conditions Other - Diseases

2 answers

Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, coxackie is caused by a virus.
The treatment is usually symptomatic, sometimes an anti viral medication will be used.
See site below for a lot more info.

2006-11-09 08:14:05 · answer #1 · answered by huggz 7 · 2 0

mcc_md@yahoo.com

TREATMENT — Most enterovirus infections are self-limited and do not require specific therapy. Exceptions may include acute myocarditis, which can be life-threatening, and acute viral meningitis, which can cause considerable short-term morbidity.

Certain hosts are more susceptible to life-threatening disease. Neonates may develop serious and sometimes fatal systemic enterovirus infections, which are transmitted from infected mothers in the perinatal period. In addition, enteroviruses can cause persistent infections in patients with hereditary or acquired defects in B lymphocyte function, such as X-linked agammaglobulinemia or adults with common variable immunodeficiency (See "Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of enterovirus infections", section on Infections in immunocompromised patients).

Antiviral therapy — The therapeutic options for more serious infections are limited and none has been subjected to adequate evaluation by clinical trials. Serum immune globulin and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) have been administered to B-cell deficient patients with persistent meningoencephalitis, on a case by case basis, with mixed results [1,2].

These therapies have also been used in non-randomized trials in neonates and children with myocarditis [3,4]. When compared to historical controls with acute myocarditis, 21 children who were treated with IVIG (2 gm/kg over 24 hours) had improved recovery of left ventricular function compared to children who received heart failure therapy alone [4].

Although there is no approved therapy, a variety of antiviral and immunomodulating agents have shown activity against enteroviruses and rhinoviruses in vitro, in animal models, and in early clinical trials [5-8]. Among the most promising are a class of compounds that bind avidly to a pocket in the viral capsid, impairing virus attachment and uncoating [9].

One of these compounds, pleconaril, is an orally administered drug with a favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicity profile. It inhibits replication of most enterovirus serotypes at concentrations of <0.1 µg/mL in vitro and attains higher concentrations within the central nervous system than in serum [10,11]. However, in study of 79 patients with enterovirus meningitis who were randomly assigned to pleconaril or placebo, patients in the treatment group had only a modest benefit [12]. Pleconaril has not undergone further clinical development and is not currently available for compassionate use.

PREVENTION — Simple hygienic measures, such as hand washing are important to prevent the spread of enteroviruses. Gowns, masks or isolation of the patient are unwarranted, except in the newborn nursery. Pregnant women near term should be advised to avoid contact with patients suspected of having an enteroviral illness due to rare cases of intrauterine fetal death associated with echoviruses and coxsackieviruses which have been reported (See "Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of enterovirus infections", section on Pregnancy).

The pre-exposure administration of immunoglobulin is known to reduce the risk of paralytic poliomyelitis [13]. It is very likely that immunoglobulin would also prevent non-polio enterovirus disease, but this strategy is rarely applicable to clinical practice.

2006-11-09 16:16:39 · answer #2 · answered by M.C. Clarence, M.D. 2 · 1 0

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