PLASMA — NO LONGER AN OPTION

Talking of Plasma therapy, Dr. Viswesvaran Balasubramanian notes that despite clinical trials suggesting no significant benefit in this intervention, it was initially recommended by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for ‘off label' use. “However, this was changed following evidence generated from international trials, including some information indicating the possibility that plasma played a role in facilitating new mutations of the virus.”

TIMING AND TREATMENT

Dr Shankara Chetty, general practitioner in South Africa, believes that COVIDis allergic in nature. He advises to record the first da of the appearance of symptoms like fever, headache, cold, dry cough, body aches etc., and note th eighth day, when the symptoms should get better instead of getting better, th patient develops breathlessness on that day, he/she should be immediate treated under the guidance a qualified doctor.

Meanwhile, Dr Shankara Chetty, a General Practitioner in South Africa who qualified as a doctor in India, believes that COVID-19 is allergic in nature. He has advised his community to record the first day of the appearance of symptoms like fever, headache, cold, dry cough, body aches etc., and note the eighth day, when the symptoms should get better. However, instead of getting better, if the patient develops breathlessness on that day, he/she should be immediately treated with steroids and antihistamines under the guidance of a qualified doctor, according to Dr. Chetty. He claims that none of the 4,000 COVID patients he has treated us this guideline needed hospitalisation, oxygen support or a vent tor.

Meanwhile, based on evolving data from clinical trials conduc both in India and abroad and with the introduction of new re men like the antibody cocktail for mild to moderate COVID pneumonia in India, we may expect to see further changes in treatment modules.