An ordinary steroid can help some coronavirus patients, scientists say.
James Martin / CNET
For the latest news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.
Scientists from the University of Oxford on Tuesday said they had found that an inexpensive, widely used drug had been significantly reduced Corona virusDeaths related to a study involving 6,000 patients. Dexamethasone, a steroid, reduced deaths in ventilated patients by a third. Deaths decreased by a fifth in patients treated with oxygen.
The drug did not appear to help patients who were not receiving respiratory support COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The UK’s National Health Service said the UK National Health Service will start using the drug in its standard COVID-19 treatment starting Tuesday. The government now has 200,000 cans after storing them for months.
“The survival benefit is clear and great for patients who are sick enough to need oxygen treatment, so dexamethasone should now become the standard of care for these patients,” said Professor Peter Horby, a leading researcher, in a press release. “Dexamethasone is inexpensive on the shelf and can be used immediately to save lives worldwide.”
The potential breakthrough is more than 8 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide and in less than a week since US cases, according to Johns Hopkins University over 2 million. By Tuesday morning, more than 437,000 people worldwide had died, including over 116,000 in the United States.
A vaccine cannot arrive until 2021.
Fighting the Corona Virus: COVID-19 testing, vaccine research, masks, ventilators, and more
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If you are concerned that you have been infected with the corona virus, contact the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists symptoms to help you decide if you want to get a test.
You may have a coronavirus if you have either of the following two symptoms:
- to cough
- shortness of breath
You could also be infected if you have two of the following symptoms:
- fever
- chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle aches
- a headache
- Sore throat
- New taste or smell loss
Here’s how to find one Corona virus test site near you and like that Illness can affect children.
Look at that:
Testing the accuracy of coronavirus antibody tests
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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about an illness or health goals.