Thiruvananthapuram: The health team at Pathanamthitta has adopted a novel course in Covid management and that is giving results. The doctors are pinning hopes on a drug generally used for parasitic infestations to fight corona virus.
Six patients including the 62 year old woman who has been hospitalized for 43 days are being administered with ivermectin which is used for anti-fungal treatment.
The doctors administered 12 mg ivermectin on alternate days in all the patients. The use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is not advised beyond a perion of 10 days and with patients showing signs of full recovery and being clinically stable, the doctors switched the drug even while continuing vitamin supplements.
The samples given on Monday for all these patients came out negative on Wednesday and four of these patients were admitted in March and two of thems were admitted in April. With double negative being the protocol, the samples were sent again on Wednesday and results are expected on Friday.
A medical board meeting is also scheduled on Friday to discuss further course of action regarding extended period of hospitalization for patients who are clinically stable.
The 62 year old woman, who was admitted on March 10, was tested negative in the first week of April. However the consecutive test showed positive results forcing continued hospitalization.