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'Panic reactions' can make things worse for people

India today reports that Maharashtra seeks permission to use BCG vaccine for clinical tests on Covid-19 cases

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-pandemic-covid19-...

The decision was taken following "positive results" of research carried out by experts at the Haffkine Institute in Mumbai, despite WHO's warning that says, ''There is no evidence that the BCG protects people against infection with Covid-19 virus. Two clinical trials addressing this question are underway, and WHO will evaluate the evidence when it is available. In the absence of evidence, WHO does not recommend BCG vaccination for the prevention of Covid-19"

https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/bacille-calmette-...

WHO also adds: In a recent review authors compared the incidence of Covid-19 cases in countries where the BCG vaccine is used with those where it is not.

According to the WHO, the authors "observed that countries that routinely used the vaccine in neonates had less reported cases of Covid-19 to date".

However, the WHO cautioned against interpreting this as a sign that the low number of cases was necessarily due to the use of BCG vaccine.

Interpreting this as a sign that the low number of cases was necessarily due to the use of BCG vaccine. Such ecological studies are prone to significant bias from many confounders, including differences in national demographics and disease burden, testing rates for COVID-19 virus infections, and the stage of the pandemic in each country.

Earlier the same government took a similar decision ... A high-ranking state government official said suspected patients kept in quarantine centres in Dharavi were likely to be the first to receive HCQS-an antimalarial drug that US president Donald Trump wanted India to supply to the US as it could be a "game-changer" in the fight against Covid 19. In places like Dharavi, the plan is more a socio-demographic compulsion.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maharashtra-may-hand-out-...

But Chloroquine is not yet proven to work against COVID-19, though news reports originating in China have speculated otherwise.

Although chloroquine has been used for more than 80 years, it’s still far from safe if used without medical advice.

https://theconversation.com/chloroquine-and-hydroxychloroquine-no-p...

And a doctor warns that the two drugs,

chloroquine and azithromycin

when taken without proper monitoring can be deadly.

https://www.quora.com/Do-chloroquine-and-azithromycin-really-work-t...

I just read another report: The latest research to add to these worries is a clinical trial from Brazil. The team released their preliminary results on the pre-print server medRxiv when they stopped the high-dose arm of their study after just six days, as several patients died - especially in the group randomised to receive higher doses of the drug.

https://www.sciencealert.com/clinical-trial-for-high-dose-of-chloro...

The research is available on medRxiv.

These 'panic reactions' can make things worse for people. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa on April 15, 2020 at 11:56am

A journalist says - WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOUR BABIES OR TODDLERS HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS BUT TEST NEGATIVE FOR THE SARS-CoV2? Think about this: Kawasaki. But this is based on anecdotal evidence and not actual research so be cautious about it.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YlI3n2Tw4-S4CDmRj7r0W9TfZTbxubK...

I want to make a few clarifications on this:

This journalist says if your child tests negative for corona virus eventhough if he has the symptoms, you should suspect Kawasaki and go for the tests.

Also there are a few case reports where a person who tested negative one day also tested positive the very next day even though the person didn’t have this Kawasaki condition.

Coronavirus reinfection fears grow as cured patients test positive ...

This is because of reactivation of the virus in ‘cured’ patients in some cases and ‘unknown reasons’ in some other cases.

Then there is a paper at preprint stage that says children with kawasaki condition also tested positive for corona virus.

COVID-19 and Kawasaki Disease: Novel Virus and Novel Case

So there are several confusing situations. As research is still going on, we can’t say anything for sure. That is why I asked you to be cautious while believing in this journalist’s story. You can only speculate or suspect something. Please don’t treat it as a fact.

What the journalist meant 's, if your child tests negative for covid 19 eventhough he has all the symptoms, you should go for Kawasaki tests as the Kawasaki might camouflage or interfere with the tests. Or it can also mean you might confuse kawasaki symptoms with COVID 19 symptoms. There is no evidence this can actually happen. This COVID 19 crisis has blurred everything. We can't say anything or confirm anything with clear evidence now.

https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-and-kawasaki-disease-in-chi...

Coronavirus and Kawasaki disease in children: it’s an intriguing but unproven link