What are the recommended management strategies for a patient diagnosed with viral pericarditis?

Recommended management strategies for viral pericarditis focus primarily on symptom relief and preventing complications. Initial treatment involves the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and chest pain, which is the cornerstone of therapy ¹ (Imazio et al., 2010). Colchicine is recommended as an adjunct to NSAIDs to improve symptom resolution and reduce the risk of recurrence, typically prescribed for 3 months in acute cases ¹ (Kyriakakis et al., 2016). Patients should be advised to rest until symptoms improve and inflammatory markers normalize ¹ (Imazio et al., 2010). Corticosteroids are generally reserved for cases refractory to NSAIDs and colchicine or when these are contraindicated, due to the risk of increased recurrence ¹ (Kyriakakis et al., 2016). Hospital admission is usually not required unless there are signs of complications such as cardiac tamponade, large pericardial effusion, or hemodynamic instability ¹ (Imazio et al., 2010). Follow-up includes clinical assessment and echocardiography to monitor resolution and detect complications early ¹ (Kyriakakis et al., 2016). Antibiotics are not indicated unless bacterial infection is suspected. Overall, management is supportive and guided by symptom severity and risk of complications, with NSAIDs and colchicine forming the mainstay of treatment ¹ (Imazio et al., 2010; Kyriakakis et al., 2016).