‘Treatment protocols likely to change’

Ahmedabad: The second wave of Covid-19 was about nine times more severe in terms of daily cases for Gujarat. The past two months witnessed half of the pandemic’s mortality and a major spike in active cases. Thus, what shape could the possible third wave take?

Dr Jigar Mehta, a city-based intensivist, on Sunday said that the impact of several drugs on the patients during the second wave will determine the treatment protocols for the third wave. “Use of steroids and some of the antibiotic drugs is already under scanner or are out of protocol at national level. We may further see the revision to ensure that the patients have minimum adverse impact,” he said.

He was speaking at a seminar on theme ‘Possibilities and Solutions: What we learnt from second wave’ organized by Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) and College of General Practitioners. The event witnessed participation of physician Dr Kamlesh Lala, infectious diseases specialist Dr Vipul Shah, KD Hospital COO Dr Parth Desai, director of IIPH-G Prof Dileep Mavalankar, pathologist Dr Mukesh Maheshwari, and paediatrician Dr Gargi Patel.

The panellists also stressed on expanding vaccination as the only sure-shot way to ensure less severity and morality among Covid-19 patients.