They said more than 90% of the Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, and about half in the intensive care unit (ICU), while more than half of flu patients were admitted for treatment, and 35% were in the ICU. While dexamethasone and other steroids are prescribed to treat cytokine storms, they said these drugs can backfire in patients whose immune response is already suppressed. “We did identify a subset of Covid-19 patients with the broadly upregulated array of cytokines. But, overall, the average person with Covid-19 had less inflammation than the average person with flu,” said study co-author Paul Thomas from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Based on the findings, the scientists said treatment suppressing inflammation might only be effective in a minority of patients with the hyperinflammatory profile.

Source: Hindustan Times November 15, 2020 10:07 UTC