China uses anti malaria drug plasma against coronavirus
You're referring to the recent news about China using plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 to treat severe cases of the disease.
Yes, you're correct. In April 2020, China's National Health Commission announced that it would be using convalescent plasma therapy to treat severe cases of COVID-19. This treatment involves transfusing plasma from patients who have recovered from the disease into those who are critically ill.
The idea behind this approach is that the plasma from recovered patients contains antibodies that can help fight off the virus. By transfusing this plasma into patients who are struggling to recover, healthcare providers hope to boost their immune systems and help them recover more quickly.
China has been at the forefront of using convalescent plasma therapy to treat COVID-19, and it has been used in combination with other treatments, such as antiviral medications and oxygen therapy.
The use of convalescent plasma therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and shortening the duration of hospitalization. In one study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that patients who received convalescent plasma therapy had a 50% lower risk of death compared to those who did not receive the treatment.
While the use of convalescent plasma therapy is promising, it's important to note that it's not a cure for COVID-19, and it's not a substitute for established treatments, such as antiviral medications and oxygen therapy. Additionally, the treatment is still being studied and refined, and more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness and potential side effects.
It's also worth noting that China is not the only country using convalescent plasma therapy to treat COVID-19. Other countries, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea, have also been using this treatment approach to help combat the pandemic.