Symptomatic treatment

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Symptomatic treatment, supportive care, supportive therapy, or

Examples

Examples of symptomatic treatments:

• Analgesics, to reduce pain
• Anti-inflammatory agents, for inflammation caused by arthritis
• Antitussives, for cough
• Antihistaminics (also known as antihistamines), for allergy
• Antipyretics, for fever
• Enemas for constipation
• Treatments that reduce unwanted side effects from drugs^[1]

Uses

When the etiology (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.

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-grade
  antibiotics. The consequence may be severe (rheumatic fever, nephritis, endocarditis
  , etc.)
• Chronic
  brain aneurysm
  .

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

References