Hospitals Are Full, COVID-19 Patients Are Given A Prescription To Kill This Virus, Really?

JAKARTA - Chain messages containing prescription drugs for those exposed to COVID-19 are on WhatsApp. The narration in the message states that those who are diagnosed with COVID with mild symptoms do not need to go to the hospital following the full treatment room.

"If someone has COVID, there is no need to panic and don't have to go to the hospital if it's not so severe that the shortness of breath requires an ICU and ventilator, because currently all of the COVID-19 special hospitals are full. It can be treated by yourself, medicine in hospitals for Covid patients like this," reads the message quoted from turnbackhoaks, Friday, June 25.

The messenger also lists various recipes that COVID patients need to consume. Among them, the antibiotic azithromycin or zitrothromax 500 mg taken for 10 days, antiviral fluvir 75, anti-cough and phlegm secretion, fluimucil 200mg, anti-inflammatory Dexamethasone 0.5, paracetamol-sanmol fever, to maintain immunity over 55 years old still have to take multi vitamin C. 1000 mg, D 5000 Iu, E 400 Iu.

"Zinc is a substance (iron) and try to bask in the sun in the morning for at least 15 minutes. Lianghua is very good for helping relieve symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath taken 3 × 4 capsules a day. Please share with all those who need it, hopefully it can help and get well soon," added the message.

Is that right?

In principle, the administration of drugs to sick people must be in accordance with the supervision of medical personnel. The drug must be given according to the patient's condition in order to reduce the risk of side effects from taking the drug. Reporting from turnbackhoaks, the message is misleading information and circulated at the end of 2020.

This message has been debunked. Pulmonary specialist and Central Executive of the Indonesian Lung Specialist Association (PDPI), Dr. Erlang Samoedro, SpP(K) quoted from detik.com, said that administering drugs, even to asymptomatic patients, must still be under medical supervision.

"Drugs must be given according to the patient's condition to reduce the risk of side effects from their use," explained Erlang.