The ongoing Navratri celebrations in India are nine holy days when the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga are worshipped. In the spirit of the occasion, senior neurosurgeon at AIIMS Dr Deepak Gupta shared nine important tips to remember during the current Covid-19 ‘wave’ so people can be better equipped in the fight against the infection.
DON’T TAKE STEROIDS FOR MILD CASES
Steroids dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and MPA may have some benefit, but they are only useful for patients who are on oxygen therapy or ventilator support. Don’t give the patients steroids early or in the first week of the course of the infection. More importantly, don’t use them for mild cases as they might do more harm. Avoid steroids in case of asymptomatic and just RT-PCR positive cases.
REMDESIVIR CAN BE EFFECTIVE IF GIVEN EARLY
Remdesivir with or without Baricitinib can be effective if administered within the first ten days of the illness for patients on ventilator support, non-invasive ventilation or HFNC. It can speed up the time taken for recovery but has no effect on mortality.
WHEN TO USE ANTICOAGULANTS
Anticoagulants (LMWH) followed by oral anticoagulants (Apixaban for three weeks) are useful if D-dimer is high.
PLASMA THERAPY MIGHT NOT BE AS BENEFICIAL
Plasma therapy has no benefits. If at all, plasma must be given within the first three days of the infection from a donor who has very high antibody titers.
OXYGEN THERAPY IS RECOMMENDED
Oxygen therapy, HFNC or ventilator support is highly recommended, if levels of oxygen saturation fall in a Covid patient.
KNOW WHICH MEDICINES MAY BE USEFUL FOR COVID
Inhaled nebulised interferons may be useful, if available. Favipiravir can also improve time taken for clinical cure and help in the cessation of viral shedding by two or three days in mild to moderate cases. MoAb can be used in mild but high-risk cases as it helps in recovery but it is very expensive.
TAKE NOTE OF WHAT DOES NOT WORK FOR COVID
Antibiotics like azithromycin and doxycycline, antivirals like lopinavir, HCQS (chloroquine), ivermectin, and vitamins are not useful for treating Covid-19. Tocilizumab (IL-6 antagonist) is not effective for preventing death in moderate or severe cases and has a risk of sepsis. If one does use it, take only one dose of 400 mg (but only in select cases).
YOUR IMMUNITY MIGHT BE ENOUGH
A majority of patients are improving on their own and developing body immunity, without any treatment. In India, with over a million cases being reported in the last year and the vaccination drive running at its best, people might be likely to achieve natural herd immunity soon.
OPT FOR THE VACCINES
The vaccines available for Covid-19 in India—Covaxin and Covishield—are recommended for all. Two doses are to be taken with a gap of minimum four weeks between them. The Sputnik V is also in the coming, while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are available elsewhere.
The novel coronavirus is going to keep spreading and infect everybody it possibly can, until the vaccines can protect everyone or the population develops natural herd immunity. Until then, it would be wise to practise Covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing masks (preferably the N95 kind) washing hands, distancing from each other, and avoiding any unnecessary travel.
