Intensive care in rabies therapy. Clinical observations.
Seven patients in India with dog-bite rabies were treated by intensive therapy. Hypoxia was prevented by intermittent positive-pressure ventilation facilitated by muscle relaxants and sedatives. Other measures, included maintenance of nutrition, correction of fluid/electrolyte and acid/base balances, antiviral agents, immunological stimulation, and intensive nursing care by immunised volunteer staff. The patients survived for from 1 to 17 days after the onset of clinical disease. When survival was prolonged (i.e., more than 2-4 days) by intensive care, the disease had diverse and serious effects, including fluctuations in temperature and blood-pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, and diabetes insipidus. Although none of the patients survived, advances in the use of this technique raised hopes that it may eventually be possible to save some patients.
D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007384:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Breathing; D011818:Rabies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors
D003561:Cytarabine