NSAIDs

In light of the warning about use of ibuprofen by COVID-19 patients from the health ministry of France, medical experts have criticised the issuance of public health warning without solid base.

About NSAIDs

NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are those medications used for reducing pain (analgesic), decreasing fever (anti-pyretic), preventing blood clots (anti-thrombotic) and decreasing inflammation (anti-inflammatory). Some of the examples are ibuprofen, aspirin, etc. The French ministry had recommended the use of acetaminophen instead. The announcement has been criticised by experts as having incomplete research basis.

Concerns about NSAID Use

Certain ill effects are associated with long term or heavy use of NSAIDs. It increases the risk of kidney damage, longer prevalence of infections, longer time span in which the virus is shed, etc. While it reduces the fever, it does not tackle the actual infection. The lowered fever may short circuit the immune system’s defence against the infection.

Fever

Fever is an increase in body temperature which enables the immune system to fight an infection more efficiently. This is true not only in humans but also in other animals and reptiles. However, every 1 degree Centigrade rise in body temperature increases the metabolic rate by 12%. A very high fever is dangerous to patients with cardiovascular disease, pregnant women and babies.