Table 4.

Management strategies for COVID-19

Drug/treatment	Remarks
Oxygen therapy	Nasal cannulas, simple face masks, venture masks or non-rebreather masks for mild cases HFNO therapy or NIV for moderate cases Invasive ventilation via endotracheal intubation for severe cases with ARDS
Antibiotics	Given to prevent/treat secondary bacterial infections Azithromycin is preferred in view of anti-inflammatory action
Corticosteroids	I.V methylprednisolone is recommended in moderate-to-severe cases at 1–2 mg/kg/day for 3 days Recently, dexamethasone has been found to be beneficial in severe cases
Antiviral drugs	Remdesivir has shown efficacy in moderate cases Lopinavir/ritonavir have much lower efficacy Oseltamivir has shown no clear benefit Recently launched favipiravir shows some efficacy in mild-to-moderate cases
Immunomodulatory drugs (anti-interleukins and HCQS)	Tocilizumab is a IgG1 monoclonal antibody, directed against the IL-6 receptor which is seen to be beneficial in moderate-to-severe cases of COVID-19 HCQS has shown better efficacy and safety profile as compared to chloroquine
Plasma exchange	Most beneficial if plasma collected within 2 weeks of patient recovery from disease
Anticoagulation	Enoxaparin is indicated in moderate-to-severe cases to prevent venous thromboembolism

HCQS, hydroxychloroquine; HFNO, high-flow nasal oxygen; IL, interleukin; NIV, non-invasive ventilation; I.V, intravenous; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome.