The processes that drive the SARS-CoV-2 virus are essential to knowing why early treatment of COVID-19 is critical. Researchers believe two fundamental processes drive pathogenesis (disease development). First, the early stage of COVID-19 is mainly caused by the replication of SARS-CoV-2. As COVID-19 progresses, SARS-CoV-2 may be driven by a dysregulated immune/inflammatory response. With this knowledge, health experts recommend that people with symptoms of COVID-19 seek treatment immediately.
Public health and medical experts have created a guideline outlining the clinical spectrum of COVID-19. The stages are:
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has provided treatment information your doctor can follow based on the degree of your infection. The NIH’s guidelines span from those who aren’t hospitalized to those who are.
If you test positive for COVID-19, there are treatments available that can decrease your risk of hospitalization or death. People in high-risk groups (older than 50, unvaccinated, with heart disease, weakened immune systems, or chronic lung disease) are more likely to become seriously ill. If you fall into one of those categories, like everyone, you should contact your doctor immediately. Why? Treatment must start within days of the first symptoms because the medications used are most effective in the early days.
To receive effective, safe, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended treatment for COVID-19, you must have a prescription from your doctor, a state-licensed pharmacist, or a Test to Treat program. Your doctor, or one of the mentioned professionals, will know which treatment is best for you.
Doctors most often prescribe two types of antiviral treatments to treat COVID-19: oral and IV.
Nirmatrelvir with Ritonavir (Paxlovid). Adults and children 12 and above (who weigh at least 88 pounds) can safely take this treatment orally. However, time is of the essence. You must begin taking this treatment within five days of the first symptoms.
Molnupiravir (Lagevrio). Molnupiravir is limited to adults. However, Molnupiravir is prescribed only if another treatment isn’t available or won’t work for you.
Once you are prescribed one of these treatments, you will take them at home two times a day for five days.
The FDA approved using Veklury (remdesivir) in 2020 to treat COVID-19. It is the first drug the agency approved to treat symptoms of COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients. Before issuing its statement and approval of Veklury, the agency reviewed three different clinical trials.
You should seek treatment as soon as possible but can be prescribed Veklury within seven days of the first symptoms of COVID-19.
Convalescent plasma is a treatment option for those diagnosed with COVID-19 and are immunocompromised or are receiving immunosuppressive treatment. People who have recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their blood. These antibodies help immunocompromised patients diagnosed with COVID-19. So, those who had COVID-19 can donate plasma to others to treat the virus.