Medical therapy and psychological treatment for SARS patients:experience with 51 cases / 中国实用内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate clinical characteristics and psychological problems of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome,and to study the effects of drug therapy and psychological intervention.Methods To analysis clinical characteristics and psychological qustioniare results.Results Fifty-one patients (male twenty-nine,female twenty-two,age range 15～68,average age (33 2?8)were analysed.Clinical symptoms were fever(96 1%),muscle pain and fatige(80 4%),cough 56 9%,chest distress and short breath(25 5%),dizziness and headeache(27 5%),diarrhea(3 9%).Psychological questionare results were depression and anxiety(90 2%),sleepless (51 2%),anorexia (31 7%),despair of disease (34 1%),restlessness (65 9%),fear unjustified attitude of other people after discharge (61 0%).Anti-viral drugs were used in 84.0% of the patients (ribavirin 0 4～1 2gram/day,clinical course 7～15 days).Antibiotics were used in 70 0% of the patients,mainly azithromycin and levofloxacin.Glucocortical steroid was used in 57 0% of the patients,mainly methylprednisolone 40～320 microgram per day with clinical course 3～15 days.Psychological intervention include such therapies as supporting,recognition,drug-assiting, suggestion, telephone talking etc.all of the patients were cured and discharged.Conclusion Comprehensive drug-therapy,especially glucocortical steroid was effective,psychological intervention was an important assisted therapy