Ivermectin should only be used to treat Covid-19 within clinical trials: WHO

A guideline development group was convened in response to the increased international attention on ivermectin as a potential treatment for Covid-19

The current evidence on the use of ivermectin drug to treat Covid-19 patients is inconclusive and until more data is available, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that the drug only be used within clinical trials.

This recommendation, which applies to patients with Covid-19 of any disease severity, is now part of WHO’s guidelines on Covid-19 treatment.

Ivermectin is a broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent, included in WHO’s essential medicines list for several parasitic diseases. It is used in the treatment of onchocerciasis (river blindness), strongyloidiasis and other diseases caused by soil-transmitted helminthiasis. It is also used to treat scabies.

A guideline development group was convened in response to the increased international attention on ivermectin as a potential treatment for Covid-19. This group comprises an independent and international panel of experts, which includes clinical care experts in multiple specialties and also include an ethicist and patient-partners.

The group reviewed pooled data from 16 randomised controlled trials (total enrolled 2,407), including both inpatients and outpatients with Covid-19. They determined that the evidence on whether ivermectin reduces mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, need for hospital admission and time for clinical improvement in Covid-19 patients is of “very low certainty,” due to the small sizes and methodological limitations of available trial data, including small number of events.
– Stay updated with the latest Pune news. Follow Express Pune on Twitter here and on Facebook here. You can also join our Express Pune Telegram channel here.

The panel did not look at the use of ivermectin to prevent Covid-19, which is outside of the scope of current guidelines, read a statement issued by WHO.

Source: Read Full Article