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Insufficient data on ivermectin efficacy against Covid: Sri Lanka Medical Association

02 Sep 2021

BY Pamodi Waravita Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) Vice President Dr. Manilka Sumanatilleke said yesterday (2) that there is not enough scientific evidence at the moment to recommend a policy decision to use the ivermectin drug, which is used to treat parasitic infections in both humans and animals, as treatment for the Covid-19 virus. He told The Morning that although certain studies are reported to have been conducted into the drug, scientific evidence is insufficient at the moment to determine its efficacy in relation to Covid-19. This comes after National Institute of Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama told the media yesterday that there is insufficient evidence to prove that the use of ivermectin could prevent or cure Covid-19. Dr. Sumanatilleke added that currently only a few drugs such as dexamethasone (glucocorticoid medication) and tocilizumab (immunosuppressive drug) are given to Covid-19 patients who are suffering severely, under careful medical supervision. The SLMA earlier cautioned against the use of dexamethasone for patients undergoing home treatment for the Covid-19 virus, without medical supervision, as it could lead to high sugar levels in the blood and result in the “black fungus” infection which was commonly seen amongst patients in India who had contracted Covid-19. Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid medication used to treat a variety of diseases and conditions as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant agent (both glucocorticoid effects) and for palliative treatment due to its effect on the blood and lymphatic systems. Glucocorticoids are a class of corticosteroids, which are a class of steroid hormones that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor in cells. A glucocorticoid receptor is a chemical structure composed of protein that receives and converts signals that may be integrated into biological systems, with the signals being chemical messengers that bind to a receptor and cause some form of cellular or tissue-based response. Consultant microbiologist Prof. Jennifer Perera, who spoke to The Morning earlier this year, said that the black fungus or “mucormycosis” is usually caused by the environment and cannot be spread from person to person.  


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