Symptomatic treatment

Symptomatic treatment,supportive care, supportive therapy, orpalliativetreatment is anymedical therapyof adiseasethat only affects itssymptoms,not theunderlying cause.It is usually aimed at reducing the signs and symptoms for the comfort and well-being of the patient, but it also may be useful in reducing organic consequences andsequelaeof these signs and symptoms of the disease. In many diseases, even in those whose etiologies are known (e.g., mostviral diseases,such asinfluenzaandRift Valley fever), symptomatic treatment is the only treatment available so far.

For more detail, seesupportive therapy.For conditions likecancer,arthritis,neuropathy,tendinopathy,and injury, it can be useful to distinguish treatments that are supportive/palliative and cannot alter the natural history of the disease (disease modifying treatments).

Examples

Examples of symptomatic treatments:

• Analgesics,to reducepain
• Anti-inflammatoryagents, forinflammationcaused byarthritis
• Antitussives,forcough
• Antihistaminics(also known asantihistamines), forallergy
• Antipyretics,forfever
• Enemasforconstipation
• Treatments that reduce unwantedside effectsfrom drugs

Uses

When theetiology(the cause, set of causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition) for the disease is known, then specific treatment may be instituted, but it is generally associated with symptomatic treatment, as well. When the etiology is unknown, then symptomatic treatment may be the only realistic option.Symptomatic treatments are often used to manage side effects, such asdrug withdrawal syndromes.

Symptomatic treatment is not always recommended, and in fact, it may be dangerous, because it may mask the presence of an underlying etiology which will then be forgotten or treated with great delay. Examples:

• Low-gradefeverfor 15 days or more is sometimes the only symptom ofbacteremiabystaphylococcusbacteria. Suppressing it by symptomatic treatment will hide the disease from effective diagnosis and treatment withantibiotics.The consequence may be severe (rheumatic fever,nephritis,endocarditis,etc.)
• Chronicheadachemay be caused simply by a constitutional disposition or be the result of abrain tumoror abrain aneurysm.

Finally, symptomatic treatment is not exempt fromadverse effects,and may be a cause ofiatrogenicconsequences (i.e., ill effects caused by the treatment itself), such asallergic reactions,stomachbleeding,central nervous systemeffects (nausea,dizziness,etc.).

See also

• Palliative care– program of supportive care for people with serious illnesses