The findings were hailed as a “major breakthrough” in the fight against the disease, with the inexpensive drug normally used to treat a range of allergic reactions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.
"Steroids will also delay viral clearance and as such were recommended to be avoided unless there are other reasons for their use such as exacerbation of asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease and refractory septic shock in COVID-19 patients," Dr Vasoo told CNA. "Dexamethasone is the first drug to be shown to improve survival in COVID-19. This is an extremely welcome result," said Peter Horby, professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the country's patients would start to receive the drug.
Doctors in some parts of the world, such as Denmark and the US, have started prescribing the steroid to COVID-19 patients.
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