Lockdown Lessons: Trial & Error
It took only three days for the number of COVID-19 cases to increase from 3,00,000 to 4,00,000 worldwide whereas it took sixty-five days for the first 1,00,000 cases to pop up. Everyone from the scientific community to the layman is suggesting various means to fight the virus. People even came up with a bizarre 10-second breath-holding test for corona. Out of all the claims, a few seem to work.
1. Chloroquine
It is a drug taken to prevent malaria. Albeit, it is only recommended only in severe cases and that not to anyone with renal ailments. It has a lot of side effects which is why it is not recommended on a large scale. Chloroquine's side effects include seizures, nausea, vomiting, deafness, vision changes and low blood pressure. Chloroquine along with has become the two principal weapons in WHO's global eradication malaria campaign.
Chloroquine, although showing interesting results is out of contention due to its ranging side effects.
2. Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine, an analogue of chloroquine is more effective as it is less toxic. Hydroxychloroquine has been studied by scientists for a few years now and have enough data to suggest that it causes little to no side effects.
The Méditerranée Infection University Hospital Institute in Marseille conducted tests on 25 COVID-19 positive patients of ages groups 12-17, 18-64 and 64+ in a non-randomized method which showed a strong reduction in viral load after treating them with hydroxychloroquine. After 6 days, the percentage of patients testing positive for COVID-19 who received hydroxychloroquine fell to 25% versus 90% for those who did not receive the treatment
Since the Marseille test was conducted in a non-randomized manner, it difficult to tell if it works for patients of all regions.
3. Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin
Additionally, when the patients were administered a dose of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, the total number of people who tested positive to COVID -19 reduced to 5%.
Azithromycin was added not only because it is known to be effective against complications from bacterial lung disease but also because it has been shown to be effective in the laboratory against a large number of viruses
The Indian Council for Medical Research has said that the empiric use of hydroxychloroquine for prophylaxis of SARS-Cov-2 infection is recommended only for asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases. Meaning that it can be used as preventive medicine against COVID -19 and that too only for those who are in close contact with asymptomatic (one who has the disease but doesn't show any symptoms) persons.
With the government allowing private hospitals to treat COVID -19 patients, it can be concluded that any rise in the cases can be handled with extra care and precaution. The only primary point which needs to be ensured now is that the health care workers, policemen and others working to help prevent the spread of the disease must be provided with sufficient protective gear.
Above information must not be considered as a medical prescription or medical advice as I am not a DOCTOR. Although at this point of time I would like to perform experiments but since I can't, the above information is my interpretation of scientific information available in various journals online and errors might have crept in which I'm happy to correct.
Lockdown could be boring and if you are having any unsolved mysteries then you tell them to me here https://bit.ly/PuzzlingMysteries and I'll try to solve them.