Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
Interesting

What to know about malaria drug and coronavirus treatment

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Apr, 2020 01:45 AM

    Some politicians and doctors are sparring over whether to use hydroxychloroquine against the new coronavirus, with many scientists saying the evidence is too thin to recommend it now.

    HOW IS IT BEING USED?

    The drug can help tame an overactive immune system. It's been used since the 1940s to prevent and treat malaria, and to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. It's sold in generic form and under the brand name Plaquenil in the United States. Doctors also can prescribe it “off label” for other purposes, as many are doing now for COVID-19.

    WHAT'S THE EVIDENCE?

    Some small and very preliminary studies give conflicting results. One lab study suggested it curbed the virus' ability to enter cells. Another report on 11 people found it did not improve how fast patients cleared the virus or their symptoms. A report from China claimed the drug helped more than 100 patients at 10 hospitals, but they had various degrees of illness and were treated with various doses for different lengths of time, and might have recovered without the drug — there was no group that didn't get the drug for comparison.

    Other researchers in China reported that cough, pneumonia and fever seemed to improve sooner among 31 patients given hydroxychloroquine compared to 31 others who did not get the drug, although fewer people in the comparison group had cough or fevers to start with. Four people developed severe illness and all were in the group that did not get the drug. These results were posted online and have not been reviewed by other scientists or published in a journal.

    Finally, the small study from France that President Donald Trump touted as evidence of the drug's benefit is now in question. The head of the journal that published it has put out an “ expression of concern ” about its methods.

    Larger, more rigorous studies are underway now.

    WHAT'S THE RISK?

    The drug can cause heart rhythm problems, severely low blood pressure and muscle or nerve damage. Taking it outside of a scientific experiment adds the risk of not having tracking in place to watch for any of these side effects or problems and quickly address them if they do occur.

    ___

    The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

    The Associated Press

     

     

    MORE Interesting ARTICLES

    WATCH: 94-Year-Old Entrepreneur HARBHAJAN KAUR Proves Age Is No Bar To Start Business

    Meet The 94-Year-Old Entrepreneur Harbhajan Kaur Who Says It’s ‘Better To Wear Out Than To Rust’

    WATCH: 94-Year-Old Entrepreneur HARBHAJAN KAUR Proves Age Is No Bar To Start Business

    PICS: Indian All-Rounder Hardik Pandya Gets 'Engaged' To Former Bigg Boss Contestant Natasa Stankovic

    India all-rounder Hardik Pandya rung in the New Year by announcing his engagement with actress-girlfriend Natasha Stankovic on social media.

    PICS: Indian All-Rounder Hardik Pandya Gets 'Engaged' To Former Bigg Boss Contestant Natasa Stankovic

    Why Neena Gupta Is 'Jealous Of' Young Actresses

    Neena Gupta is thrilled about the kind of work coming her way, but at the same time the actor says she feels envious of the younger generation of women in the industry, who are getting a chance play varied parts so early on in their careers.

    Why Neena Gupta Is 'Jealous Of' Young Actresses

    US Man Implants Car Key In Hand To His Unlock Tesla With A Simple Wave

    Imagine being able to unlock doors or a car with just a wave of your hand. Well that's exactly what one Utah man can now do, thanks to some tech under his skin.    

    US Man Implants Car Key In Hand To His Unlock Tesla With A Simple Wave

    Spanish School Teacher Wears Anatomy Bodysuit To Make Learning More Fun

    "Knowing how hard it is for kids this young to visualize the disposition of internal organs, I thought it was worth giving it a try", she said.  

    Spanish School Teacher Wears Anatomy Bodysuit To Make Learning More Fun

    Kangana Ranaut On Taking ‘Panga’ Of Marriage: Need Someone More Intelligent, Beautiful Than Me

    ‘Panga’, actress Kangana Ranaut was recently questioned if she would take the ‘Panga’ of tying the knot in 2020.

    Kangana Ranaut On Taking ‘Panga’ Of Marriage: Need Someone More Intelligent, Beautiful Than Me