Assessment of drugs administered in the Middle East as part of the COVID-19 management protocols

Inflammopharmacology. 2022 Dec;30(6):1935-1954. doi: 10.1007/s10787-022-01050-7. Epub 2022 Aug 26.

Abstract

The pandemic spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been reported first at the end of 2019. It continues disturbing various human aspects with multiple pandemic waves showing more fatal novel variants. Now Egypt faces the sixth wave of the pandemic with controlled governmental measures. COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease-causing mild to moderate illness that can be progressed into life-threatening complications based on patients- and variant type-related factors. The symptoms vary from dry cough, fever to difficulty in breathing that required urgent hospitalization. Most countries have authorized their national protocols for managing manifested symptoms and thus lowering the rate of patients' hospitalization and boosting the healthcare systems. These protocols are still in use even with the development and approval of several vaccines. These protocols were instructed to aid home isolation, bed rest, dietary supplements, and additionally the administration of antipyretic, steroids, and antiviral drugs. The current review aimed to highlight the administered protocols in the Middle East, namely in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia demonstrating how these protocols have shown potential effectiveness in treating patients and saving many soles.

Keywords: Antiviral; COVID-19 pandemic; Egypt; Middle East; Protocol; Saudi Arabia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Humans
  • Middle East / epidemiology
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Antiviral Agents