1. Isolation and Quarantine
Smallpox cannot be cured and is highly contagious. If you're diagnosed with the disease, your doctor may very well place you in isolation or quarantine to prevent the infection from spreading. You'll probably remain in quarantine until your rashes and scabs heal. This can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.
2. Antiviral Therapy and Vaccines
To decrease the severity of your symptoms, take cidofovir, an antiviral drug, or receive a smallpox vaccine within 48 hours of exposure to the virus. These medicines cannot help you once you've developed symptoms of acute smallpox infection. You must meet certain medical conditions to qualify for the smallpox vaccine. You probably won't be given the vaccine if you're pregnant, have eczema, immune deficiencies including HIV and AIDS, any allergies to the serum's ingredients or if you suffer from heart disease.
3. Supportive Treatments
If the antiviral drugs or vaccines fail to reduce the severity of your infection, doctor can only offer supportive care. This includes making sure you're well hydrated, as smallpox can cause vomiting, diarrhea and fever which can quickly drain your body of water. You might also be given drugs to manage your pain and reduce your fever. Smallpox elevates your risk for developing bacterial infections, which can cause additional medical complications. Your doctor might elect to treat you with antibiotics to preemptively manage any secondary infections that might develop as you battle the virus.
