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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said on Friday (October 2) that he and his wife Melania had tested positive for COVID-19, and the White House said he received an experimental treatment designed to fight the virus as well. as a small variety of treatments. including aspirin and vitamin D.
Trump, 74, has a mild fever, a source said, and will be transferred to Walter Reed Military Hospital for several days as a precaution. Trump’s gender, age and weight make him more vulnerable to developing severe COVID-19 and give him a theoretical risk of about 4 percent of dying from it, health experts said.
WHAT IS THE EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT TRUMP IS TAKING?
One of the most anticipated classes of experimental COVID-19 drugs are monoclonal antibodies – manufactured copies of human antibodies against the virus. The injected antibodies are designed to begin fighting the virus immediately and are being developed to prevent and treat COVID-19.
The technique is already widely used to treat a variety of diseases. The data so far is limited for COVID-19 antibodies, but US infectious diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci is among those who say it is promising.
Trump is taking a cocktail of antibodies that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is testing, which has reported improved symptoms in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with no serious side effects in trials.
READ: The next critical 48 hours for Trump in the COVID-19 fight: Official
WHAT ARE THE APPROVED TREATMENTS FOR ‘MILD’ COVID-19?
“To date, there are no treatments that have really been established to be effective in this phase of the disease. At this point, it is really symptomatic and supportive care,” said Dr. Jonathan Grein, director of hospital epidemiology at the Center Cedars-Sinai doctor in Los Angeles, who is not involved in Trump’s treatment, said in a telephone interview.
Trump’s doctor said the president is taking several medications, including:
- Vitamin D and mineral zinc, which are important for the immune system and some take as immune system stimulants.
- Famotidine, a heartburn medicine, often sold under the brand name Pepcid. The drug has not been shown to work against COVID-19, but researchers are studying it as a potential treatment.
- Melatonin, often taken as a sleep aid.
- Aspirin, which Trump has previously said he takes on a daily basis. Aspirin can help prevent heart attacks and reduce fever.
Grein said the president is likely to be closely monitored and given extra oxygen or fluids if necessary. Supportive care would depend on the symptoms: things like cough syrup or fever-reducing medicine.
READ: Trump and 2 senators test positive for COVID-19, Congress reconsiders testing theirs
WHAT ABOUT HYDROXYCHLOROCINE?
Trump early in the pandemic backed the idea of using hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, to treat COVID-19. In May, the president said he was taking the drug to prevent infection. The FDA briefly allowed its use before it withdrew an emergency use authorization in June, saying it had determined that hydroxychloroquine was not effective.
READ: Hydroxychloroquine is ineffective against mild COVID-19, study shows
WHAT IF THE TRUMP CONDITION WORSENS?
Trump was taken to the hospital in case his condition deteriorates, if, for example, he developed respiratory problems. “It is not uncommon for patients to have symptoms for several weeks. Some may get worse well into the second week of the disease,” said Dr. Grein.
For hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the FDA has granted emergency use authorization for two treatments: Veklury, also known as remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral drug sold by Gilead Sciences, which has been shown to shorten hospital stays, and plasma convalescent, which is derived from the blood of people who have survived the disease and carries antibodies that can help a patient fight COVID-19.
Hospitals also commonly use the generic steroid dexamethasone, which has been shown in studies to improve survival for hospitalized patients with critical COVID-19 who need additional oxygen. But the steroid should not be used in people with mild illness, as it can limit the body’s ability to fight the virus, according to guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
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