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Foreigner tests negative after being treated with HIV drugs for Covid-19
A British nationalist, who was a tourist in India, had earlier tested positive for Covid-19. He began responding to the combination of Ritonavir and Lopinavir (HIV antiretroviral drugs) and his latest test results showed that he had tested negative for the virus. The treatment was effective on the patient when he was given the drugs for seven days.
Three days after giving him the drugs, the results of his test samples returned negative. Doctors only disclosed his recovery after the second test result on March 23, which was also negative.
In Kerala, the HIV antiretroviral drug is being used to treat Covid-19 patients,. These drugs were already being used to treat patients in a hospital in Jaipur after the Indian Council of Medical Research had permitted to use it.
The consumption of the anti-HIV drug combinations to treat Covid-19 patients was recommended by the Union health ministry on a case-to-case basis.
The Medical Board of the State of Kerala permitted to administer the drugs on the patients suffering with pneumonia.
District Collector, S. Suhas, has initiated increase in drug availability, and therefore, doctors have started to alter the treatment protocol after receiving patient consent. The treatment procedure is carried out by a team of doctors and is led by Thomas Mathew, the principal of the medical college. (India Today)
Anti-HIV drugs are given to treat Coronavirus-affected elderly Italian couple in Jaipur
Amongst the rising cases of coronavirus in India, for the first time a combination of two drugs, which is used in controlling HIV infection, was used on an elderly Italian couple infected with and under going treatment for Covid-19 at a Jaipur hospital.
The restricted use of the combined medications of Lopinavir and Ritonavir, which are second-line HIV drugs, for treating those affected by the novel Coronavirus was immediately approved after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) sought an emergency approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
The Italian couple had already developed a severe respiratory problem. A decision was immediately taken to put them on the combination of Lopinavir and Ritonavir after receiving approval from them.
The Italian man, a doctor himself, was put on oxygen support. Even before getting infection, he had been facing some respiratory issues. His condition had been deteriorating and he developed a severe respiratory problem after getting the coronavirus infection.
Thus, the combination of Lopinavir and Ritonavir, along with other drugs was given to the Italian man. The clinical trials were performed in China, where the deadly coronavirus first emerged, as well as in Thailand for treating Covid-19 patients. (Deccan Herald)
66-year-old is 10th Covid-19 case in Kolkata
A 66-year-old man from the city of Kolkata tested positive for Covid-19, even though the patient has no travel history outside of West Bengal.
He hadn’t come in contact with any infected people either. This set alarm bells ringing in medical circles.
He is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU of a private hospital, as his condition is very critical, and has been put on ventilation support. The hospital doctors have put him on anti-retroviral drugs used to treat HIV. This is the first time the drug is being used on a Covid-19 patient in the state.
The patient experienced symptoms such as fever and respiratory distress when first brought in, and hence, was put into the isolation ward. Two swab tests were conducted and sent to different labs; both the lab results came back positive.
The hospital medical team has been put on hydroxyl-chloroquine, which is a preventive medication when coming in contact with high-risk infected patients.
(The Times of India)
Why the HIV Drug Combination?
The anti-HIV drug, a combination of Lopinavir and Ritonavir was tested and seemed to work. However, China released new data on March 18th in the New England Journal of Medicine, that they could not detect the benefit in patients that were being given this drug.
199 people with extremely low levels of oxygen were randomized to receive either Kaletra or Placebo. The people being treated with Kaletra didn’t survive, however, this was not statistically significant as this could have been a coincidence, even though both group’s blood contained the same levels of the virus.
Studies show that the drug has positive effects only if it is used in the early stages of the disease, as has been proven by many cases in India. Some patients didn’t show any signs or symptoms, but took the test anyway due to recent travel history. The ones who tested positive were immediately treated with the anti-HIV drug and recovered shortly and were tested negative. (Livescience.com)
Costing for anti-HIV medication
The antiretroviral drug with Lopinavir and Ritonavir combination costs less than ₹2000. Pfizer, the MNC pharma giant, has shipped 100 boxes to China for a trial of antiretroviral drugs. The treatment cost for Covid-19 infected patients that are poor and vulnerable is being covered by the National Health Authority of India under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
If an Ayushman Bharat beneficiary gets infected and goes to a private hospital for treatment, or has to be kept in isolation, the hospital cannot bill the patient. Besides this, all government hospitals are supposed to be providing free of cost treatment and tests. (The Economic Times)
Leronlimab- Anti-HIV and cancer drug
A drug that is used in the treatment for HIV positive patients and females suffering from cancerous breasts, is currently being used for the treatment of patients in the most crucial stages of Covid-19 in Washington State. This drug is FDA approved and is in phase two of clinical trials. The drug comes in a vial and the dose is two shots per week.
The drug was developed by CytoDyn, a company in Vamcouver, Washington, USA. They have made the key ingredient of the drug, which is a special molecule. This improves the drug and shows improved results in patients that were seriously ill and infected with the Coronavirus.
The drug is currently being tried on the most critical patients in New York City, at the University Hospital of Albert Einstein College of medicine. They tried the medication on four patients who were barely conscious and were on life support. The trials were a success, the four patients are out of the ICU and are showing strong results.
Leronlimab is being used as an anti-inflammatory for the coronavirus affected lungs, which are filled with fluid that prevents normal breathing. This drug boosts the immune system and calms the inflammation caused by the virus. (KIRO7.com)
Symptoms of the Covid-19 virus?
- Itchy throat
- Dry cough
- High temperature
- Shortness of breath
How to avoid Covid-19?
- Washing hands regularly
- Maintaining proper personal hygiene
- Social distancing at all times
- Staying home
- Using clean masks to cover nose and mouth before stepping out
- Using sanitizer before or after touching any object
- Making sure every cough and sneeze is covered
- Making sure to not touch switches, doorknobs, elevator buttons or railings of staircases unless they have been sanitized or disinfected
- Consuming only Paracetamol drugs for a mild cold
- Drinking warm water with lemon. (Staying hydrated)
- Including turmeric, lemon, garlic, and oranges in your food intake
- Rushing immediately to a nearby emergency room in case of a high fever
- Rationing wisely in order to restrict leaving the safety of your home
- Avoiding any outsider to enter your home
Disclaimer:
Anzen Exports’ blog posts are based just on our research from cited websites. To be best informed, we advise consulting a doctor about an ingredient or medicine prior to taking it.
References:
“Coronavirus Pandemic: Foreigner Treated with HIV Drugs for Covid-19 Tests Negative.” India Today, 26 Mar. 2020,
Anti-HIV Drugs Given to Treat Coronavirus-affected Elderly Italian Couple in Jaipur.” Deccan Herald, 10 Mar. 2020,
“66-year-old is 10th Covid-19 Case in Kolkata, Has No Travel History.” The Times of India, 27 Mar. 2020
Live Science Staff. “Treatments for COVID-19: Drugs Being Tested Against the Coronavirus.” Livescience.com, 23 Mar. 2020,
https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-covid-19-treatments.html
“Covid-19 Treatment to Be Covered Under Ayushman Bharat.” The Economic Times, 24 Mar. 2020,
“HIV Drug Showing Signs of Successfully Treating COVID-19 Patients.” KIRO7.com, 4 Apr. 2020,