Coronavirus Is More Severe In Those Taking Strong Anti-inflammatory

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

Coronavirus is more severe in those taking strong anti-inflammatory

Experts recommend avoiding the use of corticosteroids when treating the new coronavirus. They can do more harm than good.

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Experts recommend avoiding the use of corticosteroids when treating the new coronavirus. The authors of the article in The Lancet, based on data from previous outbreaks of other coronavirus infections, conclude that steroids can do more harm than good.

Steroids are often used by doctors to reduce inflammation in the lungs of patients with the new coronavirus. Lung inflammation has been observed during coronavirus-induced outbreaks of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).

Steroids decrease the ability of the immune system to fight off viruses and other infections that often develop in patients with life-threatening diseases. Therefore, according to experts, in the end, the use of these drugs can cause significant harm.

As shown by a retrospective study of critically ill patients with MERS, almost half of the people who received steroids needed additional treatment - artificial ventilation, drugs to increase blood pressure and dialysis. It was found that after taking steroids, the body clears the virus longer.

Other studies have shown that steroids were harmful in a SARS outbreak. Those who took them still had the virus in their bodies three weeks after infection.

“During the current coronavirus outbreak, doctors are faced with some difficult decisions on how to treat infected people. After carefully reviewing the available data, we would advise against using steroids to treat lung damage caused by this new virus. If steroids are used, it should be part of a clinical trial so we can find out if they are helping or harming patients,”said J. Kenneth Baillie, lead author and academic advisor in resuscitation at the University of Edinburgh.