Covid-19 treatment chaos on social networks

"Every family is a doctor"

Currently, on social networking sites like Facebook, it is not difficult to come across posts with instructions on Covid-19 treatment. Many posts are said to be drawn from personal experiences, wanting to share with the community. In which, everyone affirms that these treatments are safe and quickly cure the disease. On Facebook, it feels like "everyone is a doctor, everyone is a doctor". It is worth mentioning that many posts have different treatment methods. Besides sharing the correct treatment regimen to help patients, there are also many unscientific methods. Many people also take advantage of the need for treatment advice to give instructions for profit in sales...

Not long ago, many Facebook accounts simultaneously shared a method of treating Covid-19 using... earthworms. Many of the accounts are famous people, so many patients believed in and widely shared this "secret" to fight Covid-19. These people believe that just eating live earthworms will make them "immortal" and cure Covid-19. Meanwhile, up to now, there has been no scientific research confirming that earthworms or earthworm products can treat Covid-19, nor has there been any treatment or support product for Covid-19 treatment from earthworms recognized or licensed by the Ministry of Health.

A severe Covid-19 patient in Nghe An is being treated. Photo: TH

Not only that, many Facebook accounts also share ways to treat Covid-19 using folk methods such as using ginger, coconut, papaya leaves, chili leaves. With all kinds of different recipes, from cooking soup to baking candles, stewing, steaming... Some people share a rather strange method, which is to puree garlic, mix it with boiling water, then the patient just needs to put their face to it and inhale, the virus will automatically die? There are also quite a few people who are very active in sharing Covid-19 treatment methods, in which they intentionally add some functional foods to advise patients, just for the purpose of selling.

Not only are there many types of folk remedies, even when Covid-19 treatment drugs have been licensed and sold on the market, there has been a state of information confusion about how to use them properly. Many people are so confused that they even buy drugs to prevent the disease, even though they have not contracted Covid-19 themselves. In many cases, people rush to buy drugs, the symptoms are one thing, but the use of the drugs is another because they have not carefully studied the treatment regimen. Not to mention, there are a series of drugs on the market that are being sold but have unknown origins and are not licensed.

Currently, Nghe An has nearly 90,000 Covid-19 patients being treated at home. In recent days, the number of infections has exceeded 10,000/day, causing the grassroots health system to be overloaded. Therefore, many F0s who are being treated at home are in dire need of advice, but when calling the health stations, they receive very little support. That is also the reason why patients have to search social networks, looking for ways to fight Covid-19.

Many potential risks

As a person directly treating Covid-19 patients, Dr. Nguyen Duc Phuc - Head of the Intensive Care Department - Nghe An Provincial General Hospital recommends that patients being treated at home should not arbitrarily follow these treatment measures because there are many risks. Instead, they need to follow the instructions of doctors and medical staff. The treatment measures have been announced by the Ministry of Health. Regarding the use of drugs, they must also follow the instructions. F0s need to be alert, not too panicked, and access medical information in an official manner.

Recently, the Ministry of Health has licensed the production of Molnupiravir to three pharmaceutical companies. Immediately, many people rushed to buy this drug for use. However, according to doctors, like any drug, Covid-19 antiviral drugs also have side effects. Therefore, before prescribing treatment, doctors should consider the symptoms and if it is necessary to do a PCR test before deciding whether to prescribe or not. There are cases where antiviral drugs should not be taken, such as patients with poor health or underlying diseases. There are cases where it is not necessary to take them, especially when the full dose (including booster doses) has been injected and there are no symptoms.

Covid-19 treatment drugs also have many side effects and potential risks. Photo: TH

Also according to the recommendation, the antiviral drug Molnupiravir is a very special drug. Patients taking this drug must have a doctor's prescription. If taken arbitrarily, they may experience unwanted side effects, even endangering their health later. Conditions for pharmacies to sell this drug to F0 patients include: having a doctor's prescription or having a certificate of home treatment or having a video recording the sampling process and giving a positive result. Of which, the most important is having a doctor's prescription.

Regarding the diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19, the Ministry of Health's guidelines must be followed. Patients without symptoms do not need to take medication. Patients aged 18 and over with mild to moderate Covid-19 and at least one risk factor for disease progression can take medication.

Specifically, patients with symptoms: SpO2 greater than 96%, respiratory rate lower than 20 times/minute. People with SpO2 94 - 96%, respiratory rate 20 - 25 times/minute, X-ray lesions less than 50% or mild Covid-19 patients with underlying diseases are considered moderate. Regarding the time of taking the drug, patients should take it within 5 days from the onset of symptoms or have a positive test result but not use it for more than 5 consecutive days. It is recommended that the drug not be used for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children under 18 years old...

The Drug Administration (Ministry of Health) also recommends that people only use Molnupiravir when prescribed by a doctor, with the limitations of use and warnings and precautions of the drug mentioned above. During the use of Molnupiravir, if you experience any adverse reactions to the drug, you should immediately notify your doctor or pharmacist for advice and timely treatment. In particular, people should not arbitrarily buy or use Molnupiravir drugs that are floating around, of unknown origin and source on the market; only use drugs that have been licensed for circulation by the Ministry of Health.

The leader of Nghe An Department of Health said that in the next few days, Nghe An will reach the peak of the epidemic, so the pressure on the health system is very large. Currently, the grassroots health workers are almost overloaded, the health sector has to increase its force, even mobilizing students to support. Therefore, there have been cases where F0 called for support but were not responded to. "Regarding treatment measures, people need to access official information on Covid-19 treatment advice. Do not use drugs without a doctor's prescription," he said.