How is mild COVID-19 treated?
It should not be used in pregnant, postpartum or nursing mothers. In patients for whom favipiravir cannot be used for different reasons, alternative agents that have randomized controlled studies showing that they have positive effects on clinical results in the literature can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with the support of the relevant literature. Although rare, it is reported in the literature that COVID-19 and influenza can be seen as co-infection. Therefore, if the diagnosis of influenza is confirmed in COVID-19 cases, oseltamivir should be added to the treatment. However, oseltamivir is not required to be added to patients receiving favipiravir, as favipravir is also effective against influenza.
In mild-moderate and severe pneumonia cases, the duration of treatment is increased to 5-10 days. Among these individuals, in patients aged >50 years and with comorbidities, the dose of favipiravir can be administered 2×800 mg, followed by 2×1800 mg loading, for a total of 10 days.
There is no generally accepted treatment or medicine for COVID-19. Favipiravir is an antiviral drug used for influenza in Japan.
As of October 2020, its effectiveness in the treatment of COVID-19 is being tested in 30 separate clinical trials. It is currently not known for certain whether this drug is safe or suitable for the treatment of the disease; however, the probability of benefiting the treatment of COVID-19 is partially higher compared to other drugs.[5] As of July 23, 2021, this drug has been used and/or is being used in China, Italy, Russia, India and Turkey.
