Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — After being diagnosed with “Covid-19” last month, US President Joe Biden finally received a negative test result for the Corona virus, but received a positive result again a few days later.
Biden was receiving the antiviral drug “Paxlovid”, which is linked to a positive test result for the Corona virus in some patients, even after they completed treatment.
This phenomenon is known as baxeloid rebound.
What exactly is the nature of this regression? And what is the reason? And how common is it? And does the possibility of experiencing symptoms of corona again mean that people should not consume the drug?
Dr. Lena Wayne, CNN medical analyst, emergency physician, and visiting professor of health policy and management at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health answers some questions about this drug.
Question: What is ‘baxlovid’ reflux? And why does it happen?
Dr. Lina Wayne: The phenomenon known as ‘Baxlovid reflux’ occurs when people with COVID-19 take the antiviral baxiloid pill, begin the healing process, improve symptoms, and receive negative test results.
Usually two weeks after the initial diagnosis, their symptoms recur, and they receive positive results for a coronavirus test again.
The reason for this is still unknown.
A small study by the University of California, San Diego, found that this is not because Baxlovid is not effective against mutant.
The time period for this recurrence indicates that it is not caused by reinfection.
Instead, many scientists, myself included, believe that this is likely due to Baxlovid working as it should, but not long enough.
Paxiloid works to stop the virus from multiplying. It is currently taken for five days. The drug may work for up to five days, although some people still incubate the virus in their bodies after five days.
When Paxlovid is stopped, the virus begins to multiply again.
It may be necessary to give Baxlovid for a longer period of time, perhaps 7-10 days instead of five days.
This matter is still under study.
QUESTION: It seems that a lot of people have baxoloid reflux, including President Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci. How common is that?
Dr. Lina Wayne: From what we hear about, we may encounter many people who have experienced this, but studies show that it is uncommon.
Preliminary studies found that relapse occurred in about 2% of cases.
Incidentally, those who were not treated with Paxlovid also experienced a chance of reflux.
In that study, symptoms recurred in a group whose members received the placebo in 1.5% of cases.
These studies were conducted at a time when delta was the dominant variable, and reversion rates may be higher during an omicron predominance.
A large study of more than 13,000 patients by researchers from the National Institutes of Health found a rebound rate of nearly 6%.
Please note that this study is online, but has not yet been peer-reviewed.
Of course, the actual rate may be higher because people are not routinely tested after using Baxlovid.
Question: Does the possibility of recurring symptoms mean that people should not use it?
Dr. Lina Wayne: No, I think people should consider the possibility of baxlovid reflux as a known side effect of the drug.
It is not recommended for you to do so due to the inconvenience of experiencing symptoms and having to go into quarantine again.
However, the possibility of this side effect is not a reason to avoid taking a drug that is highly effective to reduce severe illness.
Question: Who is eligible to use Baxlovid? And are they supposed to avoid using it?
Dr. Lina Wayne: People who qualify for baxlovid are the people most at risk of serious repercussions if they catch COVID-19.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Control (CDC) has a list of these cases.
They include aging, and chronic underlying medical problems, such as heart and lung disease, diabetes, and obesity.
People who have not been immunized are also more likely to contract severe COVID-19.
There are some medical conditions that people may suffer from, which exclude them from using “Paxlovid”, or require them to be given a different dose.
Some medicines also interfere with baxlovid, and it may be necessary to stop it for a short time.
That’s why it’s important to check with your doctor.
Question: What should be done if a person develops baxlovid reflux? Is it necessary to use the drug again? Or subject to quarantine?
Dr. Lina Wayne: Baxlovid rebound is unlikely to develop into severe disease, a recent CDC report found.
Baxlovid is not currently recommended during relapses, although this recommendation may change as more studies continue.
The Centers for Disease Control says that individuals with recurrent infections should self-isolate for another five days.
This is because an individual who is found to be infected again by rapid antigen tests performed at home sheds the virus and can remain infectious to others.
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