CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus and hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine has long been used to treat malaria as well as other conditions such as lupus and arthritis.

Chloroquine is an antimalarial drug that was developed in 1934. Hydroxychloroquine, an analogue of chloroquine, was developed in 1946 and is used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis.

One of the world's largest studies, the Recovery trial run by Oxford University, has involved 11,000 patients with coronavirus in hospitals across the UK and included testing hydroxychloroquine's effectiveness against the disease, along with other potential treatments.

It concluded that "there is no beneficial effect of hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with Covid-19" and the drug has now been pulled from the trial.

There are no drugs or other therapeutics presently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent or treat COVID-19.

What Is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

At the end of 2019, a new type of coronavirus began making people sick with flu-like symptoms. The illness is called coronavirus disease-19 — COVID-19, for short. The virus spreads easily and has now affected people in many countries.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

COVID-19 causes a fever, cough, and trouble breathing. Some people might have:

• A sore throat
• chills
• repeated shaking with chills
• muscle pain
• headache
• a loss of taste or smell

The virus can be more serious in some people. People who are very ill get care in a hospital with breathing help, IV fluids, and other treatments.

What Is an IV?

An intravenous line (IV) is a soft, flexible tube placed inside a vein, usually in the hand or arm. Health care providers use IV lines to give a person medicine or fluids.

How Can I Protect Myself From Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

To protect yourself and your family:

1. Keep your family home and away from others as much as possible.
2. Avoid other people, especially those who are sick, and busy places until the outbreak is under control. Remember, COVID-19 can spread before a person has symptoms and even when someone has no symptoms.
3. If you need to go out, cloth face masks on adults and kids over 2 years old can help slow the spread of the virus:
4. Do not use a face mask meant for a health care worker because they're needed in hospitals and doctor's offices.
5. To see how to put on and remove masks, clean them, or make your own cloth mask
6. Try to stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from other people.
7. Wash your hands well and often. Wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Teach your kids to do the same.
8. Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
9. Use a household cleaner or wipe to clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people touch a lot.
10. Follow recommendations from your local health authority, especially if there are people with coronavirus in your area.

Empathy, empathy, empathy.

If their fears and frustrations are minimized or dismissed, Hatfield says, children likely will show up in other ways — fighting with siblings, throwing tantrums or being generally uncooperative.

For small children with big emotions, she says, get on their level and say something affirming like, “I imagine you are worried about getting sick. I wonder if you are frightened about all the things that are suddenly changing.”

For kids feeling the pinch of isolation, you could say, “It’s so frustrating to not compete in your dance team program. You had looked forward to that for months!” Communication is the key !

You and your child will get through this — and, if you’re lucky, you may even be a little better for it in the end.