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Symptomatic treatment, supportive care, supportive therapy, orpalliative treatment is anymedical therapy of adisease that 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 andsequelae of these signs and symptoms of the disease. In many diseases, even in those whose etiologies are known (e.g., mostviral diseases, such asinfluenza andRift 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 of symptomatic treatments:
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.[2] Symptomatic treatments are often used to manage side effects, such asdrug withdrawal syndromes.[3]
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:
Finally, symptomatic treatment is not exempt fromadverse effects, and may be a cause ofiatrogenic consequences (i.e., ill effects caused by the treatment itself), such asallergic reactions, stomachbleeding,central nervous system effects (nausea,dizziness, etc.).
Symptomatic treatment may be the only therapeutic approach available in those instances in which etiologic diagnosis is lacking.
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