Treating COVID-19: Can It Be Stopped?

COVID-19 is a new disease. So there’s no vaccine. That means that at this time, there’s no way of treating or preventing COVID-19. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections. But COVID-19 is caused by a virus, not bacteria. Therefore, antibiotics can’t cure it. 

Managing COVID depends on its severity. Case in point, mild-to-moderate cases self-quarantine. Symptoms resolve within 14 days. Severe cases don’t resolve as easily. The risk of having serious complications is greater. Clinical drugs are provided. They aren’t guaranteed effective. But, there’s potential. Breathing problems are common in severe cases. You’re given oxygen when your oxygen levels are low. You can still breathe. However, you need assistance. There are times when people can’t breathe on their own. Ventilation is needed then. The ventilator pumps air into your body. Both are very important. Your body develops immunities to fight infections. But this can’t happen if you’re not breathing!

Clinical Drugs for Treating COVID-19

There’s no vaccine for COVID-19. We can slow its transmission. But, we can’t make it go away. Yet. Hospitals give drugs. These are clinical drugs. Some treated other coronaviruses. Others treated inflammation. They have different uses. Some to block the viruses’ ability to enter your body. Others to shorten its life or symptoms. Finally, some delay your body’s immune response to the infection. Clinical drugs are in early stages. We don’t know if they’re effective. Additionally, we don’t know about long-term effects or interactions. 

Three treatments are used in trials for treating COVID-19. Firstly, Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine. They treat malaria and inflammation. Next is Remdesivir. It’s an antiviral drug. It was used for other coronaviruses. Lastly is blood plasma. Plasma helps save lives. It carries proteins and nutrients throughout the body. Blood plasma comes from people who had virus. Their blood has antibodies. These antibodies fight infections. 

Are There Vaccines For Treating COVID-19?

Drug companies create vaccines to stop infections. The same is true for COVID-19. At this time, there is no vaccine. And there’s a reason for that. Vaccines take years to develop. They need to work. But, they have to be safe to take. There’s no time frame. We don’t know when we’ll see a vaccine. However, a treatment could help with a vaccine.