Doctors Vedka and Adnan Begović, a married couple from San Diego, shared their experiences with the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the United States of America for N1. Adnan Begović, a doctor specializing in pulmonary diseases and intensive care and an associate professor at the faculty, spoke about the mutations of the Coronavirus. "Whether a new type of mutation on the existing virus influences the effect of the virus, causes different symptoms, and worsens the clinical picture, we do not have that information. In some strains, such as British, Brazilian, and South African, there is some data to suggest that the behavior of the virus is different in terms of binding to cells, that it is more infectious, able to do more damage, and possibly change the clinical picture. The information we have does not hold that this is true. According to my experience, I don't have the impression that anything new is happening," he explained. He also spoke about the treatment of patients in the US with antiviral drugs, saying that he has no experience with Favir, but he has experience with Remdesivir, which is the only one approved in the US. "The greatest effect of that antiviral drug is in the group with relatively mild symptoms. It has been shown that it can also affect those patients who require hospital treatment and the need for oxygen. Of course, it is used with the only drug recommended in America, which is steroids. As far as I know, the latter is quite similar in terms of effect. This drug (Favira) is approved in several states; it is not approved in the USA; it has no effect on mortality, but it has an effect on reducing hospital days, the same as Remdesivir," he said. Speaking of the vaccine, Dr. Begović said that he and his wife also received the Pfizer vaccine and that he only had milder symptoms after receiving the vaccine. "The epidemiological situation will improve with a larger number of vaccinated people. There are recommendations in the US that people who have been vaccinated can sit indoors without a mask, which I don't practice. We do not know if vaccines prevent infection." Vaccines prevent disease symptoms, but we don't know if they prevent infection, and those who are vaccinated can be infected and transmit their disease," he explained. Vedka Begović, doctor of internal medicine, spoke about the treatment of post-covid patients. "COVID is divided into an acute phase that lasts four weeks, then comes prolonged COVID from the 4th to the 12th week, and after the 12th week, we are talking about the post-covid syndrome. Patients may complain of symptoms they had during the disease and some new symptoms. Symptoms are more pronounced in people who have a more severe clinical picture. Asymptomatic people may have symptoms that can last 2-3 months. The most common are lethargy, tiredness, and fatigue, as well as chest pains and difficulty breathing," she said. She claims that she does not prescribe antibiotics for outpatient COVID treatment. "We do not prescribe antibiotics for mild forms. Studies have shown that even if you have pneumonia, antibiotics won't help you. Again, the approach must be individualized. If you have a patient at risk of developing a superinfection, you must make a clinical judgment, and these are patients who are in the hospital. We do not prescribe antibiotics in outpatient treatment," she explained. She also talked about the intake of C and D vitamins. "Vitamin C has its specific role in the immune system and the preservation of the cardiovascular system, and it is good to take it with food. The approach is that there are no pros and cons. It will not harm you, but whether it will prevent COVID is unknown. With vitamin D, it is a little different. There is an overlap between people who have low new vitamin D and the risk of COVID-19. When you have a patient who you think may develop a more severe clinical picture, vitamin intake is required, but these are smaller doses," she said. (https://ba.n1info.com/)
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