Currently there is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19.
Avigan is a trade name for the favipiravir drug developed by Toyama Chemical, a group from Fujifilm. Favipiravir is used to treat RNA virus infections. Favipravir has been approved by the Japanese Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) since 2014 to treat various viruses that are not responsive to existing antivirals. Furthermore, Favipravir has also been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) United States to be used as an antiviral to treat influenza. Meanwhile, Chloroquine is a drug that has long been used to treat parasite infections, especially plasmodium which causes malaria.
Why is it so difficult to develop treatments for viral illnesses?
An antiviral drug must be able to target the specific part of a virus's life cycle that is necessary for it to reproduce. In addition, an antiviral drug must be able to kill a virus without killing the human cell it occupies. And viruses are highly adaptive. Because they reproduce so rapidly, they have plenty of opportunity to mutate (change their genetic information) with each new generation, potentially developing resistance to whatever drugs or vaccines we develop.
So, if all KMC Clinic readers back to the question, what is the treatment for covid-19?
Treatment is directed at relieving symptoms and may include:
There is no evidence that ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) need to be avoided.
If you have mild symptoms, your doctor may recommend that you recover at home. Doctor may give you special instructions to monitor your symptoms and to avoid spreading the illness to others. You may be asked to isolate yourself as much as possible from family and pets while you're sick, wear a mask when you're around people, and to use a separate bedroom and bathroom. Your doctor will likely recommend that you stay in home isolation for a period of time except to get medical care. Your doctor will likely follow up with you regularly. Check with your doctor about when you can end home isolation.
If you're very ill, you may need to be treated in the hospital.
KMC Clinic also provide covid-19 Rapid Tests for those of you who want to protect your health and your family, contact us through our website and social media for more information.
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