The Union Health Ministry has issued a clinical guidance for the management of the COVID-19 infection in adult patients, recommending the use of Remdesivir in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 and those with no renal or hepatic dysfunction within 10 days of onset of any symptom.
The Ministry also issued a warning against the use of the drug in patients who are not on oxygen support or in home settings.
According to the guidelines, the Tocilizumab drug may be considered for use in the presence of severe disease (preferably within 24 to 48 hours of onset of severe disease/ICU admission).
Tocilizumab can be used in case of significantly raised inflammatory markers (CRP &/or IL-6), condition not improving despite use of steroids and no active bacterial/fungal/tubercular infection.
The ministry further added that those above 60 years of age, with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and other immunocompromised states are at high risk for severe disease and mortality.
The guidelines classify Coronavirus patients into those affected by mild, moderate and severe disease.
For mild disease, home isolation and care are recommended, while admission in a ward is recommended for those battling moderate disease and ICU has been recommended for patients with severe COVID-19, the ministry added.