Latin News Agency for Medicine and Public Health
By Katherine Trujillo Useche
Doctor Isaúl Hernández Díaz illustrated through the journal Medicine and Public Health (MSP) on general drug recommendations and COVID-19 a short time ago; He has been interviewed again to know his impressions regarding his exhibition and establish what aspects have changed to today taking into account the advances in science and the greater knowledge about the virus. We highlight below the main comments of Doctor Hernández.
When asked about the changes so far, he proposes to return to the four main points discussed in his publication:
POINT 1 “Effect of certain antihypertensive drugs on the risk of infection and severity by COVID-19“The scientific literature proposes that certain hypertensive medications work in the” renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers; ACE is and ARBs). “
You have the possibility of increasing the risk of contracting the COVID-19 or make it more severe as a result of the use of these antihypertensive drugs. On the other hand, other studies estimate a protective effect against the lung damage caused by the coronavirus. On the subject, several specialized entities agree that these theories do not have clinical evidence and that discontinuing these drugs without medical indication may cause harm to patients and do not recommend using these drugs against COVID-19 except in the context of a clinical trial.
In the interview, Dr. Hernández affirms that the concepts noted above are still in full force and that it is not recommended to suspend the use of medications since there is no evidence to indicate the involvement of an increase in the severity of the disease.
Step 2 “Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the severity of covid-19”. As with antihypertensive drugs, ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is assumed to affect the severity of the coronavirus.
In this regard, it is stated that there is no scientific evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatories cause a severity in the treatment of COVID-19 and that its use is possible for treatments that are in process, have or do not have the disease.
Again, Doctor Hernández confirms what has been said in the sense that there is not enough scientific information for his prohibition of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, however, he concludes at this point that acetaminophen is more recommended for analgesic and anti-inflammatory manifestations and that it does not cause effects of severity against COVID-19.
Point 3 “Does nebulization therapy in people with COVID-19 increase the risk of infecting close people?” Following the last outbreak in Hong Kong of the virus, the possibility of aerosolized transmission generated by the use of the nebulizer in patients with the infection was estimated. This is because the study affirms that the treatment induces coughing, which is why they recommend the use of personal protective equipment. It also recommends that the nebulisations should be avoided due to their transmission to close people and that they should be alternated or replaced by a dose inhaler if possible. measure.
In this regard, Doctor Hernández affirms that these studies must be carefully reviewed, since much controversy is generated by the effect of the aerosol on the spread of the virus. He recommends that at home to use this therapy you must have the protective equipment, it is done in open spaces, trying to get as far as possible from other people to avoid its expansion, as well as carrying out a thorough cleaning of the area that was treated.
Point 4 “ Hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin as treatment or prevention or prevention of COVID-19?” Some studies conducted with treatment using these drugs showed that there is no evidence of efficacy either as prevention or as curative use. The authorization that was initially given for its use caused excessive purchases of these drugs, causing their shortage to treat other diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. The studies determined that there is no benefit for prevention or curative treatment.
The FDA revoked the authorization for the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for coronavirus treatments and their use should only be for clinical trials or treatments determined for hospitalized patients and through the authorization of emergency use.
In conclusion of what was discussed, it can be affirmed that the observations raised in his article by Doctor Hernández are fully valid in general terms and that studies are progressing day by day to determine the effectiveness of various drugs to be used in a preventive or curative way.
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