DOH: Low dose steroid treatment dexamethasone no magic pill vs. COVID-19

The use of low dose steroid treatment dexamethasone on COVID-19 patients—viewed by British researchers as a breakthrough for treating severe cases—is not a magic pill against the dreaded disease, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday. 

Vergeire issued the classification after UK researchers found out that the use of  low dose steroid treatment dexamethasone reduced the risk of death of COVID-19 patients by a third, and of COVID-19 patients on oxygen by a fifth. 

“Hindi pa po ito peer-reviewed ng mga ka-level nilang experts, iyong isa sa mga proseso para masabi na ang ebidensiya ay study ay katanggap-tanggap. Aantayin po muna natin ang resulta ng peer review na ito bago natin masabi na puwede natin itong gawin,” Vergeire said. 

“People might think this is a magic pill. It is not,” Vergeire added.

Vergeire also reminded the public that the low dose steroid worked only on severe and critical cases thus far.

“Gumana po ito sa mga kailangan ng oxygen at doon sa mga naka-ventilator. Hindi po ito iinumin at mawawala na ang COVID-19 o iinumin at mape-prevent na ang COVID-19,” Vergeire pointed out. 

“Ito pong [low dose dexamethasone] ay supporting treatment kasi wala pa nga pong gamot o baking [sa COVID-19]. Kapag nakumpleto na po ang proseso, this will be a breakthrough sa science. Pero sa ngayon, this cannot be used on mild, asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. I hope this is clear to all of us,” Vergeire added.

The Philippines has 26,781 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday. Of this number, 6,552 recovered while 1,103 died.

Quarantine measures such as limited mass transport operation and limited workforce allowed to physically report for work are still in place to prevent COVID-19 transmission. —KG, GMA News