The doctor warned about the dangers dexamethasone in the treatment of mild COVID-19

The use of dexamethasone for the treatment of mild COVID-19 or prophylaxis of a disease may harm the patient’s health, said in an interview with RIA Novosti Director of the Institute of pulmonology at the hospital Assuta (Rishon Le Zion) Daniel Starobin.

Earlier, the Ministry of health of the United Kingdom reported that the trials of dexamethasone demonstrated that it significantly reduces the risk of death among patients requiring oxygen treatment. Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a press briefing on Tuesday, June 16, described the results of research “currently the largest breakthrough” in the fight against coronavirus.

“Yet here is a study — work in critically ill patients, it has shown effectiveness, but it does not say that steroids can be effective in milder forms of COVID-19. Moreover, I’m not talking about prevention. There must be a minus sign, “—says the doctor.

According to Dr. Starobin, the effect of steroids depresses the immune system, which can be dangerous in initial and milder forms of the disease.

“Today is still in force warning who that the steroids such as COVID-19 are dangerous. In the sense that, first, they can weaken the immune system, and people that use steroids can easily become infected and those already infected and take steroids, they have the disease may more easily develop because it is suppressed in the strength of the immune system. Therefore it (disease — ed.) can quickly go from mild to severe, “—said the Agency specialist.

The doctor added that those who are taking steroid medications on a regular basis for the treatment of some chronic diseases, including oncological diseases, in any case should not stop taking the medication.

Earlier it was reported that the Director General of the world health organization tedros adhanom Ghebreyesus called “scientific breakthrough” results of clinical trials of dexamethasone. According to the findings of the Oxford study, anti-inflammatory drug reduces the risk of death of patients connected to the ventilator, 35% among patients on oxygen treatment — by 20%.

The results of the study of British doctors, the Israeli specialist called encouraging in the treatment of severe forms of coronavirus. In such cases, the immunosuppressive effect of steroid drugs just might benefit.

“The logic of this is because severe forms COVID-19 are based from the point of view of the pathophysiology that there is an inflammatory process, caused by the virus and the reaction to it exaggerated, exaggerated reaction of the immune system. This multiplied reaction can lead to what appears the failure of various organs, ranging from respiratory system and all the others, so they die. This is a severe COVID-19“, — said the doctor.

At the Institute of pulmonology led by Dr. by Starobin, steroids in the treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19 was not applied, since the Israeli doctors believe that the results of the British doctors require additional clinical evidence.

“Again, too early to say is this (research edition) something dramatically good for serious illnesses or just happened by chance, because the group (the subjects — ed.) of patients was relatively small, but it is, of course, some clearance, “concluded Starobin.