Treatment

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The treatments for the various agents of biological warfare range from antibiotics and antitoxins to symptomatic relief and tender loving care of the patients.

Smallpox treatment presently only involves symptomatic relief by providing adequate fluid intake, alleviation of pain and fever and debridement of skin lesions to prevent secondary bacterial superinfections. There are antiviral compounds, such as cidovir, being developed, but these must be further evaluated before they can be approved.

Anthrax treatment uses penicillin or penicillin derivatives. Patients must be aware of allergies to these substances. The drug of choice is ciprofloxacom ( Cipro), a DNA inhibitor in the bacteria. TLC is also encouraged.

Plague treatment uses antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamycin, the different forms of tetracyclines, and chloramphenicol. Must be given during the first 24 hours of onset of symptoms and continued for seven days. TLC is also encouraged.

Hemorrhagic fevers ( Ebola, Lassa, Marburg, Hanta) treatment involves symptomatic relief and supportive care, especially in keeping electrolytes and oxygen levels balanced. Ribaviron and other antiviral drugs are presently being investigated and have been found effective in treating various forms of Hemmorrhagic Fever

Q-fever treatment of choice is the antibiotic Doxycycline, when administered within the first three days of onset of the illness. The administration of the antibiotic should be 100 mg, twice daily for fifteen to twenty-one days.

Tularemia treatment varies depending on results from a sensitivity test of the bacteria in the patient. Doxycycline and Cipro are drugs of choice for oral administration, while streptomycin and gentamicin can be administered intramuscularly.

Glanders treatment in some cases is restricted to TLC, but antibiotics such as tetracycline, cipro and streptomycin have been found effective.

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