Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Medications

There is no known medication that effectively reduces the risk of dying from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) or shortens the length of illness in people who have HPS.

People who see a health professional for symptoms of fever and muscles aches and are suspected to have HPS should be given broad-spectrum antibiotics until it is known for sure whether HPS is the cause of the illness.

Studies have not yet proved the benefits of using intravenous (IV) ribavirin to treat suspected cases of HPS, and this treatment is not recommended.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Ralph Poore	Last Updated: May 23, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Pierre Rollin, MD - Center's for Disease Control and Prevention
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