Prophylaxis

The concept of prophylaxis is being discussed in light of several countries looking into the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19.

About Prophylaxis

Prophylaxis is also called preventive healthcare. It is the series of measures taken to prevent the affliction of a disease. Disease prevention requires several categories of action:

• Primordial prevention: steps to avoid the development of the risk factors during early life stages.
• Primary prevention: steps to eliminate the pathogen/ to increase the immunity. Eg: vaccination, healthy diet regime, etc.
• Secondary prevention: steps to screen and address a disease before the onset of symptoms.
• Tertiary prevention: steps to reduce harm from a symptomatic disease.
• Quaternary prevention: steps to mitigate the consequences of excessive intervention in the health system.

Chemoprophylaxis

Chemoprophylaxis is the use of drugs and other medications to prevent the onset of a disease or an infection. It is also called chemoprevention. It is used on people who have compromised immune systems, people who are prone to recurrent infections and even on healthy individuals who are at risk due to an epidemic.

Chemoprophylaxis for COVID-19

Several countries across the world are looking into the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for chemoprophylaxis of COVID-19. Eg: In USA, New York is procuring 70,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine and 750,000 doses of chloroquine. In India, ICMR has recommended its use. Since the drug is listed on the WHO List of Essential Medicines, it could be made available without a disproportionate rise in costs.