The decision to administerRemdesivir or use of any other investigational therapy must be taken by a medicalprofessional and the drug must be administered only in a hospital setting, saidthe 'Revised guidelines for home isolation of mild/asymptomatic Covid-19 cases'issued by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday.
"Do not attempt to procure or administer Remdesivirat home," the revised guidelines said.
The guidelines said that systemic oral steroids are notindicated in mild disease and if symptoms persist beyond seven days (persistentfever, worsening cough, etc.), one should consult the treating doctor fortreatment with low-dose oral steroids.
"In case of falling oxygen saturation or shortnessof breath, the person should require hospital admission and seek immediatelyconsultation of his/her treating physician/surveillance team," the revisedguidelines said.
For the treatment of asymptomatic patients or those withmild symptoms under home isolation, the revised guidelines said, "Patientsto follow symptomatic management for fever, running nose, and cough, aswarranted. Patients may perform warm water gargles or take steam inhalationtwice a day."
"If fever is not controlled with a maximum dose ofParacetamol 650 mg four times a day, consult the treating doctor who mayconsider advising other drugs like a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)(ex: Tab. Naproxen 250 mg twice a day). Consider Tab Ivermectin (200 mcg/kgonce a day, to be taken empty stomach) for three to five days," theguidelines said.
AInhalational Budesonide (given via inhalers with a spacerat a dose of 800 mcg twice daily for five to seven days) to be given ifsymptoms (fever and/or cough) are persistent beyond five days of disease onset,they added.
The guidelines said that a patient or a caregiver willkeep monitoring the health and seek immediate medical attention if serioussigns or symptoms develop.
"These could include difficulty in breathing, dip inoxygen saturation (SpO2 < 94 percent on room air), persistent pain orpressure in the chest and mental confusion or inability to arouse," theysaid.
The guidelines added that a patient in home isolationwill stand discharged and end isolation after at least 10 days have passed fromthe onset of symptoms (or from the date of sampling for asymptomatic cases) andno fever for three days. There is no need for testing after the home isolationperiod is over.