A team of infectious illness experts from the Australian University of Queensland, Brisbane claim that meds used for malaria and HIV may also beneficial for the treatment of the COVID-19.
The HIV combination lopinavir/ritonavir and the anti-malarial drug chloroquine have reportedly shown promising results in human tests and helped the virus go away in the patients diagnosed with it.
Currently, the meds are tested while researchers globally are trying to create a vaccine, treatment or a remedy for this illness that can be deadly.
Unfortunately, 17,000 people globally have it and more than 6,500 have lost their lives.
One of the Australian researchers, Professor David Paterson, explains they’re hoping to have people on a larger scale for pharmaceutical trials by the end of this month.
The Drugs Shouldn’t Be Excluded as Treatment or Cure for the Respiratory Infection
According to Paterson, these drugs may be potential cures or treatments for the disease as when they were given to the patients, it made the virus disappear.
But, despite several cases successfully treated with these meds, there’s no controlled testing yet. The Chinese patients that the doctors treated in Australia responded very well to the HIV drug.
In Australia, there have been approximately 300 cases of COVID-19 and 3 people have died.
The HIV drug, also known as Kaletra, may be helpful in stopping the virus’s reproduction and affecting new cells.
The antimalarial medication works differently-it poisons the parasites and averts them from spreading in the red blood cells.
Since it was capable of killing viruses in lab tests, it may also be helpful in the treatment of this coronavirus, claim the scientists.
What Happens If You Catch the COVID-19?
Not everyone with the infection will feel sick- some people may have it and not develop symptoms. The symptoms can be mild and then develop slowly and become more severe.
The severe symptoms seem to be the case in elderly people with underlying health issues like lung or heart problems.
Around 80 percent of people recover from the virus without a need for hospitals or specialized treatments.
Individuals who’re young, healthy or have only mild symptoms are mostly advised to stay in self-isolation and reduce contact with people. They’re also advised to rest, hydrate, and monitor their symptoms.
For older adults with other health issues and a weaker immunity, contacting a doctor as soon as the symptoms are visible is pivotal for best outcome.
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