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Donald Trump.
JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images
- Donald Trump is taking a Covid-19 drug that is used for severe cases.
- The drug also has several side effects.
- Trump has spent four days in a military hospital for the virus.
US President Donald Trump said he will leave the US military hospital where he was being treated for Covid-19 later Monday, adding that he was feeling “really good.”
“I’ll be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 PM. I feel really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it take over your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some drugs and knowledge. I feel better than 20 years ago! “he said on Twitter.
I’ll be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 pm I feel really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it rule your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs and knowledge. I feel better than 20 years ago!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020
Meanwhile, Trump is being treated for Covid-19 with a steroid that is recommended for severe cases of the disease and carries risks of serious side effects, including mood swings, aggression and confusion.
Trump’s medical team said Sunday that the president had started taking dexamethasone, a long-term generic steroid widely used to reduce inflammation associated with other diseases. The steroid was started after Trump experienced low oxygen levels.
White House officials have painted an optimistic picture of Trump’s condition, saying he could be released from the hospital as soon as Monday. But dexamethasone has generally been reserved for more serious cases.
A study in June that was hailed as a breakthrough showed that use of the steroid reduced death rates by about a third among the most seriously ill hospitalized Covid-19 patients.
Answer
Dexamethasone is used to treat immune system disorders, inflammatory conditions, respiratory problems, and other conditions by lowering the body’s natural defensive response, which can overreact and cause additional problems.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America says that dexamethasone is beneficial for people with critical or severe Covid-19 who require additional oxygen. But studies show that the drug can be harmful in people with milder Covid-19 because it can suppress their natural immune response.
Additionally, side effects can include physical problems such as blurred vision and irregular heartbeats, as well as personality changes and difficulty thinking, according to the International Myeloma Foundation.
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