Infectious disease specialist: “If you are not in a high-risk group, cold medicine is more effective.”
Entered 2023.10.13 18:42 Views 300 Entered 2023.10.13 18:42 Modified 2023.10.13 18:44 Views 300
Paxrovid and Laguebrio are treatments for COVID-19, but they can only be prescribed to the elderly, those with underlying diseases, and those with weakened immune systems. Healthy people under 60 years of age are not eligible for prescription. Why are there these restrictions? [사진=게티이미지뱅크]# Mr. A, a 45-year-old man, recently experienced symptoms such as high fever close to 39 degrees and chills. I tested with a self-diagnosis kit I had at home, and the result came out positive for COVID-19. He visited a nearby ENT clinic, but the doctor said there was no need for a separate test and prescribed cold medicine and fever reducers.
Person A, who suffered from severe pain, asked if he could be prescribed Paxrovid, a known treatment for COVID-19. However, the doctor sent Mr. A away, saying that he was not eligible for prescriptions for coronavirus treatments such as Paxrobid and that he could only take existing medications. What kind of situation is it that a coronavirus patient cannot receive a prescription for a coronavirus treatment?
Currently, there are two types of drugs approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as oral treatments for COVID-19: Paxrovid (ingredients: nirmatrelvir & ritonavir) and Lagebrio (molnupiravir). The drug is an antiviral drug used to treat severely diagnosed patients with COVID-19, and can only be prescribed to patients who meet the criteria for administration.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, patients who can be prescribed Paxrovid and Lagebrio are elderly people over 60 years of age or people over 12 years old with underlying diseases or immunocompromised. Patients with underlying diseases include diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, BMI over 30kg/m2, neurodevelopmental disorders, or mental illness.
Immunocompromised patients include: △ Those currently receiving treatment for tumors or blood cancer △ Those with immunological complications or receiving immunological treatment within 2 years after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or even after 2 years △ Those who have received B-cell immunotherapy treatment within 1 year △ This includes people being treated for sickle cell anemia, hemoglobinosis, or thalassemia, people being treated for congenital immunodeficiency, and lung transplant patients.
Among these subjects, treatment can be prescribed to patients who have developed COVID-19 symptoms within 5 days and who do not require oxygen treatment. Even if a healthy person under the age of 60, like Mr. A, is diagnosed with the virus, he or she cannot receive a prescription for treatment. This is why the medical staff did not recommend paid testing to Mr. A now that the quarantine obligation has been lifted.
Why are these restrictions in place? The infectious disease specialist explained, “This is because the patient does not need Paxrovid.”
Professor Eom Joong-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Hospital said, “Strictly speaking, coronavirus treatments such as Paxrovid should be viewed as drugs that prevent those vulnerable to infection from developing into seriously ill patients, rather than treating symptoms.”
Professor Eom joked that the time it takes for general patients, not those in the high-risk group, to get rid of symptoms when they take Paxrovid changes from ‘7 days’ to ‘one week.’ That means there is no difference.
Professor Eom said, “For general patients, taking cold medicine and antipyretics helps relieve symptoms,” and added, “With Paxrovid and Lagebrio being given the name Corona treatment, it seems like taking these medicines will cure COVID-19.” “A misunderstanding has spread,” he explained.
However, Professor Eom added that the medical staff should properly explain these details so that no one leaves the hospital with an uneasy feeling like Mr. A. It is pointed out that patients will naturally have doubts if they simply repeat that they are not eligible, so the purpose of the coronavirus treatment and the reason for setting it as a target must be explained accurately.
2023-10-13 09:42:55
#hurts #prescribe #treatment #COVID19
