What is the treatment for a viral infection?

From the Guidelines

Treatment for viral infections should focus on managing symptoms and, when necessary, using antiviral medications to reduce the risk of complications, as recommended by the most recent guidelines. For most viral infections, rest, staying hydrated, and taking over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help reduce fever and relieve pain. Adults typically take 325-650mg of acetaminophen every 4-6 hours or 200-400mg of ibuprofen every 4-6 hours as needed.

Key Considerations for Treatment

• For specific viruses, antiviral medications may be prescribed, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for influenza, which is recommended to be started as soon as possible after illness onset, especially within 48 hours, as indicated by 1.
• The decision to use antiviral treatment should be based on the patient's risk factors, disease severity, and the likelihood of influenza, considering the prevalence of influenza activity in the local community, as suggested by 1.
• Antiviral treatment is particularly recommended for persons at higher risk for influenza complications, including children aged <2 years, adults aged ≥65 years, and those with certain underlying medical conditions, as outlined in 1.

Antiviral Medications

• Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is recommended for the treatment of influenza at a dose of 75mg twice daily for 5 days, with consideration for longer courses or higher doses in immunocompromised patients, as discussed in 1.
• Other antiviral medications, such as acyclovir for herpes infections or various antiretroviral medications for HIV, may be prescribed based on the specific viral infection and patient factors.

General Principles

• Completing the full course of any prescribed antiviral medication is crucial, even if symptoms improve, to ensure the virus is fully suppressed and reduce the risk of resistance.
• Avoiding contact with others while contagious is important to prevent the spread of the infection.
• Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections and should only be used if there is a secondary bacterial infection, as they can contribute to antibiotic resistance and do not target the viral cause of the illness.

From the FDA Drug Label

RELENZA (ruh-LENS-uh) is a medicine for the treatment of influenza (flu, infection caused by influenza virus) RELENZA treats the cause of influenza at its source, rather than simply masking the symptoms. Adult and pediatric patients at least 7 years of age who have influenza symptoms that appeared within the previous day or two. Acyclovir ... has been shown to be effective in the treatment of initial and recurrent genital herpes, and herpes zoster infections.

The treatment for a viral infection such as influenza is RELENZA (zanamivir) for patients at least 7 years of age who have influenza symptoms that appeared within the previous day or two. For other viral infections such as genital herpes and herpes zoster, acyclovir is an effective treatment option. Key considerations for treatment include:

• The type of viral infection
• The severity of symptoms
• The patient's age and medical history
• Potential interactions with other medications 2 3

From the Research

Treatment for Viral Infections

The treatment for viral infections varies depending on the type of virus and the severity of the infection.

• Antiviral agents such as acyclovir, ganciclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir are effective in treating herpes simplex and varicella-zoster infections 4.
• Amantadine and rimantadine are useful in the management of influenza A virus infection, while lamivudine is used to treat chronic hepatitis B infection 4.
• The combination of interferon alfa and ribavirin is the optimal treatment for hepatitis C 4.
• Newer antiviral agents such as valaciclovir and famciclovir have a high oral bioavailability, allowing for less frequent intake and avoidance of intravenous therapy in many cases 5.
• Neuraminidase inhibitors like zanamivir and oseltamivir are active against both influenza A and B viruses and are well tolerated 5.

Antiviral Drugs

There are several antiviral drugs available for the treatment of viral infections, including:

• Acyclovir, which is effective against herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus 6.
• Ganciclovir, which is used to treat cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 4.
• Lamivudine, which is used to treat chronic hepatitis B infection and is also effective against human immunodeficiency virus infection 7.
• Ribavirin, which is used in combination with interferon alfa to treat chronic hepatitis C 4, 5.

Management of Viral Infections

The management of viral infections involves the use of antiviral agents, as well as supportive care to alleviate symptoms and prevent complications.

• Early initiation of treatment is crucial in maximizing the effect of antiviral therapy, especially in non-primary infections 6.
• Long-term prophylactic oral acyclovir can suppress recurrences of genital herpes simplex in patients with frequent episodes 6.
• Athletes with viral infections should avoid hard training for at least a month after infection to prevent complications and allow for full recovery 8.