Thai medical expert warns against excessive use of Favipiravir for COVID-19 infections
The Nation/Asia News Network
BANGKOK — Thailand is using some 60 million Favipiravir pills a month to treat people with symptomatic Covid-19 disease, raising concerns in a medical specialist that the virus may turn resistant to the drug.
The concern was voiced on Tuesday by Assoc Prof Dr Thawee Chotepithayasunon, a specialist of the Medical Services Department.
Thawee said about 90 percent of people do not have symptoms or only have mild symptoms after they are infected with the Omicron strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, so they should not be given the Favipiravir antiviral drug.
The doctor said statistics showed that Thailand is using about 2 million pills of Favipiravir a day or 60 million pills a month, which was very high.
“Since the antiviral drug is used in very high amounts now, specialists fear drug resistance. Theoretically, it can happen,” Thawee said.
Article continues after this advertisementHe said once the Covid-19 virus becomes resistant to Favipiravir, the antiviral drug would become useless.
Article continues after this advertisementHe said infected people should be treated based on their symptoms and people with no symptoms should not be given Favipiravir at all.
The doctor said the Public Health Ministry has issued new treatment guidelines for hospitals to admit only infected people with high fever above 38 degrees Celsius or people with comorbidities or the elderly who may need respirators or may see their symptoms worsen later.
Thawee said 90 per cent of infected people will be able to cure themselves in course of time. Doctors who are in charge of home isolations may consider giving them Far Talai Jone (Andrographis paniculata) herb.
The doctor added that it was very rare for people infected with Omicron to see their condition worsen from green to red — the most serious condition.
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