AKURAT.CO, The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends using arthritis medications containing: corticosteroid, as a cure for Covid-19 patients.
According to WHO, these two drugs are the first drugs found to be effective against COVID-19, since corticosteroids were recommended by WHO in September 2020 as a treatment for COVID-19.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the arthritis drug was given to low-income and middle-income countries that did not get the vaccine, because of the unequal distribution of vaccines in the world.
“Uneven distribution of vaccines means that people in low- and middle-income countries are most vulnerable to severe forms of the COVID-19 variant. So, the greatest need for these drugs is in countries that currently have the least access. We must change this immediately,” Tedros said through a press statement, quoted on Wednesday (7/7).
However, these corticosteroid-containing arthritis medications should be given concurrently with -receptor blockers interleukin-6, so that the immune patients of Covid-19 patients do not experience inflammation.
“These drugs offer hope to patients and families suffering from the devastating and critical effects of COVID-19. But IL-6 (interleukin-6) receptor blockers remain inaccessible and out of reach for much of the world,” he said.
However, arthritis medications contain corticosteroid this must be given together with interleukin-6 receptor blockers, so that the immunity of Covid-19 patients does not overreact
Therefore, to increase access and affordability of this life-saving arthritis drug, WHO is asking manufacturers to lower prices and provide supplies to low- and middle-income countries, which are experiencing a spike in Covid-19 positive cases.
Some time ago, the WHO clinically evaluated arthritis drug therapy with corticosteroids in severe and critical Covid-19 patients, with the addition of interleukin-6 receptor blocking compounds, to block inflammation of other organs due to Covid-19 which is often the cause of Covid-19 deaths.
According to a WHO analysis of the evaluation, the 28-day risk of death for patients receiving one of the arthritis medications with corticosteroids such as dexamethasone was 21 percent, compared with the 25 percent risk assumed among those receiving standard care without arthritis medication. For every 100 such patients, four more survive.
In addition, only 26 percent of patients receiving medication and corticosteroids required a ventilator, compared with 33 percent of patients receiving standard care. The WHO says that means for every 100 severe patients who are given corticosteroid arthritis drugs, seven patients can still survive without a ventilator.
Therefore, the WHO has updated the guidelines for treating Covid-19 patients, which is to include interleukin-6 receptor blockers along with arthritis drugs containing corticosteroids, to save the lives of patients who are seriously or critically ill due to Covid-19. Especially when the patient is seriously or critically ill, often suffers from an overreaction of the immune system, which can be very dangerous for the patient’s health.[]
– .
