LibGuides: COVID-19 health information: COVID-19 health information

COVID-19 health information

The National Guard. (2020, Mar. 14). New York National Guard. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/thenationalguard/49667734346. Used under the Creative Commons License.

First, some mild disambiguation: "coronavirus" is a general term for viruses with spike proteins on their surfaces that give the virus an appearance like a crown ("corona" is the Spanish word for crown). The virus that appeared at the end of 2019 is a variant on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS. The U.S. Center for Disease Control has "named [it] “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”)."

It is critically important to note that both the CDC and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases urge calm in the face of a pandemic virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, puts the situation in a helpful perspective in an episode of On Assignment with Richard Engel (linked in the Public health video & audio tab to the left): "Right now, you shouldn't be panicking. But to deny that there's a threat is being unrealistic." Hence a need for a page offering fact-based information about the virus. In the tabs to the left you will find information about it from different sources, as well as updates on what is being done around the world to prevent its spread and educate the public about it.

In particular, the Recognizing and avoiding misinformation tab is of note. It can help you (efficiently) sift through the myriad of coronavirus-related info that you will encounter on a daily basis, and be able to separate known facts from misleading information.

Two specific warnings from the Journal of the American Medical Association

Caution Needed on the Use of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for Coronavirus Disease 2019
From the article: "In 2 small, uncontrolled studies, hydroxychloroquine and its congener, chloroquine, were reported to be effective against COVID-19, although the publishing journal’s society subsequently declared that the trial did “not meet the Society’s expected standard.” These weak findings, bolstered by anecdotal reports and media attention, have fostered widespread belief in the efficacy of these agents. In response, concerns have been raised about the lack of reliable efficacy data and about potential toxic effects. In short-term use, chloroquine can prolong the QT interval and induce arrhythmias. This is especially concerning in elderly patients with underlying heart disease who are at highest risk for COVID-19."
Effect of Ivermectin on Time to Resolution of Symptoms Among Adults With Mild COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Among adults with mild COVID-19, a 5-day course of ivermectin, compared with placebo, did not significantly improve the time to resolution of symptoms. The findings do not support the use of ivermectin for treatment of mild COVID-19, although larger trials may be needed to understand the effects of ivermectin on other clinically relevant outcomes.

What Is It Like to Have COVID-19?

What Is It Like to Have COVID-19?
COVID-19 continues to rapidly spread throughout the world. In the past few months, the population affected by the disease has shifted from older to younger patients. Public health officials are concerned that younger people seem not to be very compliant with recommendations regarding masking and social distancing. It is believed that younger people think that the adverse consequences of the disease occur in the elderly and not in them. Garret Salzman, MD, is a resident physician at UCLA and contracted the disease. He is young and healthy, but he has had substantial disability from COVID-19. He tells a cautionary tale of his experience with COVID-19 that this is not a benign disease in young people, that they need to be careful.

Site map

Here is a site map of what you will find on this guide:

Nurse

Willis Lam (2017, Mar. 9). LEGO MOC Nurse Minifigure. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/85567416@N03/33538761265. Used under the Creative Commons License.