COVID-19 Positive Child, IDAI: No Need To Give Antibiotics

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Head of the Coordination Work Unit (UKK) for Infections and Tropical Diseases as well as a member of the COVID-19 Task Force of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) DR. dr. Anggraini Alam, Sp.A(K), said that parents do not need to give antibiotics to children who are exposed to COVID-19 and are treated at home alone.

"The use of antibiotics, according to various studies from the CDC, WHO, sees that this does not enter the standard of care and does not exist in the COVID-19 cycle, so it is not given for COVID therapy," Anggraini said in a joint chat with IDAI via Instagram Live, reported by Instagram Live. Between, Sunday, July 18th.

Recently, narratives and messages containing prescription drugs for COVID-19 have circulated on social media containing suggestions for the use of several types of drugs such as azithromycin, favipiravir, and dexamethasone to treat COVID-19. These antibiotics are generally easy and inexpensive to obtain in pharmacies offline or online.

"Why is it suddenly booming (antibiotics)? Because it's still early. For example, azithromycin, this makes us all easy and easy to recognize compared to other antivirals that are not familiar. But as time goes on, we learn more and more, that this is not used for COVID therapy, but for a bacterial infection/coinfection," explained Anggraini.

For information, Azithromycin is an antibiotic to treat infectious diseases caused by bacteria. Quoted from Hello Sehat, azithromycin is used to treat COVID-19 patients because it has a role as an antiviral.

However, this drug is only prescribed to COVID-19 patients according to certain criteria according to the doctor's assessment. Consumption of antibiotics that are not needed increases the body's susceptibility to infection and results in resistance to antibiotic treatment in the future.

Meanwhile, favipiravir or avigan is an antiviral drug whose use must be prescribed by a doctor.

Then dexamethasone is a steroid drug class of corticosteroids. This drug is usually used to treat inflammation, indigestion, asthma, and allergic reactions. Sometimes, dexamethasone is also used in the treatment of certain types of cancer. After going through clinical trials, dexamethasone has been shown to be effective in saving COVID-19 patients from critical conditions.

However, Anggraini said careless use of antibiotics and antivirals could potentially cause new problems in the body, including children who are exposed to this new corona virus.

He emphasized that the use of this drug was given by doctors to COVID-19 patients in hospitals who were in critical condition or had severe symptoms.

When asked about ivermectin, Dr. Anggraini said that this drug is still in clinical trials and has not recommended the use of ivermectin as a drug to prevent or treat COVID-19.

"So, we're waiting. Don't think it's easy to get and cheap, buy it right away, because it's still not proven," he said.

Anggraini then advised parents to remain calm and diligently consult with relatives and pediatricians while undergoing independent isolation (isoman) together. Parents are also encouraged to monitor their children's health with guidelines and an isoman diary from IDAI.

"Having an IDAI diary is very helpful in order to get a daily guide. Parents also don't hesitate to communicate with local health workers such as pediatricians, health centers, and relatives through social media so that they can work together and find out about each other's family, including the little one. , said Dr. Anggraini.

"Don't diagnose and make decisions or give your own medicine. Doctors are the ones who are already in charge of providing management related to COVID," he concluded.