The COVID-19 Novel Corona Virus Pandemic which has been affecting almost all countries across the world for several months now, has brought with it a lot of unknown variables. New information on the Virus, its effects and reactions to various drugs are coming in everyday as teams of researchers and scientists are continuing to analyse the Corona Virus and also trying to find a vaccine or a cure. A set of latest studies after some clinical trials have revealed that the usage of corticosteroids on critically ill COVID patients improves their survival rates, greatly!

An analysis of results of different trials showed that very seriously ill COVID-19 patients who had been hospitalised, had drastic reduction in mortality rates when treated with steroids. The patients involved in the clinical trials had been randomized to receive systemic hydrocortisone, dexamethasone or methylprednisolone, or usual care or placebo! The meta-analysis of seven international trials arrived at the conclusion of using corticosteroid drugs as a treatment to reduce the death rate among the most critically ill of COVID-19 patients. The results indicate that the death rate had dropped by almost 20% with the usage of steroids for treatment! 

Low dosages of dexamethasone are already being used in most hospitals across the world, in treating COVID-19 patients, especially those in intensive care. Following the publishing of these results on the usage of steroids, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has updated its advice on COVID-19 treatment. Janet Diaz - WHO's Clinical Care Lead, stated at a social media live event, "The evidence shows that if you give corticosteroids... (there are) 87 fewer deaths per 1000 patients... Those are lives... saved!" The WHO has updated its advice to include a "strong recommendation" for use of steroids in patients with severe and critical COVID-19 infections! However, a professor who worked on this analysis says that though this comes as a good news for COVID patients who become critically ill, usage of steroids would still not be enough to end outbreaks of the deadly virus or help in infection control measures. Stay tuned for updates...