Avoid Steroids, Test If Cough Persists: New Covid Treatment Guidelines
NDTV
The revised COVID-19 treatment guidelines spelt out the conditions for mild, moderate and severe disease.
Doctors should avoid giving steroids to COVID-19 patients, the government has said in its revised clinical guidelines for coronavirus treatment, days after its task force chief expressed regret for the overuse of the drug during the second wave.
The revised guidelines said that drugs like steroids can increase the risk of a secondary infection like invasive mucormycosis or 'black fungus', when used too early, at a higher dose or for longer than required.
Spelling out the doses for the drugs if necessary for three kinds of infections - "mild, moderate and severe", the guidelines said that if cough persists for more than two-three weeks, patients should be tested for tuberculosis and other conditions.
Addressing a news conference last week, NITI Aayog Member (Health) and chief of the Covid Task Force Dr V K Paul had expressed concerns over the "overuse and misuse" of drugs like steroids.
