How do you treat a coronavirus infection?

The treatment is said to be symptomatic (it aims to relieve the symptoms): drugs against fever (paracetamol). In severe forms, sick people can develop serious respiratory problems or even present states of shock, resulting in a drop in their blood pressure or kidney failure. They must then receive antibiotics in case of bacterial co-infection, be put on respiratory assistance or put into an artificial coma...

Anti-inflammatory drugs not recommended

To reduce the fever, take paracetamol, which has been restricted in pharmacies. The health authorities advise against starting a treatment based on anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, cortisone, etc.) or aspirin, which could worsen the state of health of people with coronavirus. Patients undergoing anti-inflammatory treatment due to a chronic disease should not interrupt their treatment without the advice of their doctor.

Prescription of hydroxychloroquine allowed in severe cases

As part of the health emergency, the government issued a decree on 26 March authorizing the hospital to prescribe hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, for patients suffering from severe forms of Covid-19. The delivery of a treatment combining lopinavir and ritonavir is also authorized.

Four combination therapies are currently being tested.

Research to find an effective treatment focuses both on drugs that have proven effective in treating other diseases, particularly viral diseases, and on the development of an antiviral drug-specific to Covid-19.

Since 22 March, a European clinical trial called "Discovery" has been evaluating four experimental treatments for Covid-19. It is coordinated by Inserm as part of the Reacting consortium and will evaluate the efficacy of four antiviral molecules: redeliver, lopinavir in combination with ritonavir, the latter treatment is associated or not with beta interferon, and hydroxychloroquine.

Using plasma from cured patients

Serotherapy is another avenue currently being tested. This technique involves taking blood plasma from people who have recovered from Covid-19 infection and transfusing it to sick people.  The plasma contains antibodies developed by the body of cured patients. A clinical trial has been underway in the United States since the end of March, and another began in France on 7 April.