Some (Modest) Good News on Covid-19: Doctors Are Getting Better at Treating It

Lacking a vaccine or antivirals, physicians now use a mix of drugs to combat the virus’s impact

By Margherita Stancati and Jason Douglas of The WSJ. Excerpts:

"the outline of a treatment strategy—which includes a mix of anti-inflammatory drugs and blood thinners—that doctors in Europe say is saving lives among those hospitalized and the smaller number who need intensive care."

"Most cases of Covid-19 are mild and can be treated at home with rest, fluids and common painkillers. But in Europe, around a third of known cases end up in hospital"

"the proportion of those dying from Covid-19 in intensive care declined to 42% by late May, from around 60% in March"

"Far fewer people are getting infected than at the peak of the crisis, and more of those who are infected are younger, which may contribute to better outcomes. Health systems are also better prepared and less stressed than at the height of the pandemic."

Covid-19 isn’t just a respiratory disease but that it can potentially affect the cardiovascular and nervous systems, for instance.

The emerging approach focuses on treating a handful of frequently observed symptoms of severe Covid-19 that can turn deadly. First is delivering enough oxygen. Second is reducing the risk of blood clots. Third is tackling inflammation of the organs and tissues caused by a runaway immune response to the virus."

"The wide range of symptoms in severe cases, and the lingering damage suffered by many who recover, distinguishes Covid-19 from comparable respiratory illnesses"

"mechanical ventilation . . . doctors say they have learned to avoid it unless absolutely necessary. Instead, many patients are given oxygen at high pressure using sophisticated plastic hoods. They are also laid on their stomachs, a technique known as proning that boosts lung function."