Q: I saw my family doctor last week for a routine blood pressure check and, because I’ve had several friends report recently that they have been diagnosed with COVID-19, I asked how best to treat symptoms of suspected COVID-19 virus infection. I have four at-home COVID-19 test kits and have already used one because I regularly drop off needed grocery items to my parents, who are in rather fragile health. (The test was negative.)
When I asked what to take if I do catch COVID, my doctor told me that I shouldn’t take Motrin (ibuprofen) for the fever and body aches that usually come with it, and should stick with generic Tylenol, but she didn’t tell me why. Can you help?
A: I would congratulate your doctor for being so attentive to the medical literature on this topic. This recommendation came from a recent article in the highly respected British Medical Journal. The reason for the recommendation you received is that the entire class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID; ibuprofen and naproxen, for example) appear to block chemical reactions in the body that lead to inflammation, which in turn lessens body aches.
The problem is that some of those chemical reactions are crucial to mounting a defense against the COVID-19 virus, causing a person with COVID-19, who is taking NSAIDs, to have much more severe symptoms that also last longer than they might otherwise have.
Also, if you are trying to isolate your elderly or more frail relatives from any possible infection and you are taking groceries to their home, it is best to leave the package on the front step or in the garage for at least two hours. At this time of year, the combination of time and low temperatures will greatly decrease the survival of any organisms that you may have left there in preparing and delivering the package, greatly lowering the chance of infecting the recipient of the package.
To learn more about this and many other health topics, visit the American Academy of Family Physicians’ website, familydoctor. org, where you can search for your topic of interest.
I want to thank Deborah L. for her question. If you have any particular topic you would like to hear more about, please message me at paulmdake@gmail.com.
Dr. Paul Dake, a Newberry native, is a retired family physician. He lives in Pinconning, Michigan.
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These] drugs appear to block chemical reactions in the body that lead to inflammation, which in turn lessens body aches. The problem is that some of those chemical reactions are crucial to mounting a defense against the COVID-19 virus.
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