Ribavirin for treatment of viral hemorrhagic fevers
Ribavirin belongs to a class of drugs known as antivirals and is used to treat a variety of viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Lassa fever and Hantavirus infections. Side effects associated with this drug include sour stomach, dizziness, feeling cold, irritability, and itching skin, among others. In Lassa fever, ribavirin has been effective when used orally or IV and is considered to be the drug of choice in treatment of this form of viral hemorrhagic fever.
In clinical studies conducted in Hamburg, Germany, use of ribavirin has been associated with decreased death in patients with naturally occurring Lassa fever. This antiviral was most effective when given early on in the infection (within six to seven days from onset of symptoms). In patients who are severely ill, experts support the use of this drug before diagnosis is confirmed. In a study, researchers found that ribavirin reduced the growth of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in the liver, and significantly decreased the presence of the virus in the bloodstream of mice. Even though mice in this study had severe infection, the virus was not detected in the heart or brain in treated mice.
In another study, patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever were treated with oral ribavirin. After treatment, the efficacy or oral ribavirin was noted to be 80% in patients with confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and 34% in those suspected of having it. Researchers concluded that ribavirin is an effective treatment for the hemorrhagic fever of Crimean-Congo infection.