Are corticosteroids given orally or by injection an effective treatment for people with COVID-19?
Are corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory medicines) given orally or by injection an effective treatment for people with COVID-19?Key messagesCorticosteroids (anti-inflammatory medicines) given orally or by injection (systemic) are probably effective treatments for people hospitalised with COVID-19. The authors don’t know whether they cause unwanted effects. The authorsdon ’t know which systemic corticosteroid is the most effective. They found no evidence about people without symptoms or with mild COVID-19 who were not hospitalised. They found 42 ongoing studies and 16 completed studies that have not published their results. The authors will update this review when we find new evidence. What are corticosteroids?Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medicines that reduce redness and swelling. They also reduce the activity of the immune system, which defends the body against disease and infection. Corticosteroids are used to treat a variety of conditions, such as asthma, eczema, joint strains and rheumatoid arthritis. Systemic corticosteroids can be swallowed or given by injection to treat the whole body. High doses of corticosteroids taken over a long time may cause unwanted effects, such as increased appetite, difficulty sleeping and mood changes. Why are corticosteroids possible treatments for COVID-19? COVID-19 affects the lungs and airways. As the immune system fights the virus, the lungs and airways become inflamed, causing breathing difficulties....
Source: Cochrane News and Events - Category: Information Technology Authors: Katie Abbotts Source Type: news
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