COVID19 drug only meant for healthcare workers, ICMR cautions people

ICMR says intake of medicine should not in still sense of false security

Mumbai: The National Taskforce for COVID19, set up by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has in an advisory issued on March 22 cautioned the public against taking Hydroxy-chloroquine tablets in the treatment of SARS-CoV2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2). The ICMR advisory states that the drug is meant only for hospital staff – doctors, nurses and paramedical staff who have been regarded as high risk category, that too the medication cannot be taken without doctor’s prescription and under medical supervision.

The ICMR advisory comes with a clear warning – “It is reiterated that the intake of the above medicine should not in still sense of false security”.

The advisory provides for placing the following high risk population under chemo-prophylaxis with hydroxy chloroquine: (1). Asymptomatic (of a condition, or a person, producing or showing no symptoms of disease) Healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID19; and, (2). Asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases.

The ICMR has in its recommendations in the advisory to the state’s has clearly stated – “the placing of healthcare workers under chemoprophylaxis (treatment given or action taken to prevent disease) should not instill a sense of false security. They should follow all prescribed public health measures such as frequent washing of hands, respiratory etiquettes (covering ones nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing), keeping 1 meter distance and use personal protective equipment (wherever applicable).

The health workers engaged in treating positive cases should self-monitor their health and immediately report to the health authorities if they have become symptomatic.

The high risk contacts of a positive case placed under chemo prophylaxis, should remain in home quarantine while on prophylactic therapy.

As recommended by the said Task Force, the drug should only be given on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner. The contraindications (signs) mentioned in the recommendations should strictly be followed.

Apart from the symptoms of COVID19 (fever, cough, breathing difficulty), if the person on chemo-prophylaxis develops any other systems, he should immediately seek medical treatment of the medical practitioner who has prescribed the chemo-prophylaxis (treatment).

As per the ICMR advisory the prescription drug is to be taken for seven days in prescribed dosages meant for both the healthcare workers and household contacts. The drug is not meant for children under 15 years of age. The drug is contraindicated (not recommended) in persons with known cases of retinopathy, known hypersensitivity hydroxychloroquine, 4-aminoquinoline compounds.

The ICMR had to issue an advisory after US President Donald Trump on Saturday, March 21 tweeted about use of combination of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin for the treatment of Corona virus. He tweeted “Hydroxychloroquine & Azithromycin, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine. The FDA has moved mountains – Thank You! Hopefully they will BOTH (H works better with A, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents) be put to use IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE ARE DYING, MOVE FAST, and GOD BLESS EVERYONE!”…

Noted ENT surgeon Dr Prakash V Dhond from Borivali clarified that  Hydroxychloroquine is prescribed for other viral infections and also for malaria. Besides this the drug is used in treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Azithromycin is prescribed for bacterial infection, infection of the ear and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). The drug comes with a serious warning – it is not prescribed for patients with history of jaundice and liver problems.

Doctor Milind Joshi from Malad East while talking to TheNews21.com said “it is meant only for hospital staff and not for ordinary people. It has serious side effects if take without any indication”.