Prospects for a COVID-19 treatment: review

Abstract

In the context of the new coronavirus infection spreading it is particularly relevance to obtain information on the clinical course, diagnostic possibilities and features of the COVID-19 treatment. By May 2020 in the world more than 4 million people were infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and more than 300 thousand died. In this review data about the clinical course, diagnostic possibilities and treatment of patients with COVID-19 are present. The authors analyzed publications presented in local and international databases from December 2019 to May 2020 on the new coronavirus infection. According to the analysis the most frequent symptoms described in literature wee fever, weakness, cough, dyspnea, gastroenterological manifestation and smell dysfunction. The main methods of diagnostic are the results of clinical evaluation, computer tomography and molecular genetic methods of examination. The treatment of his infection is limited by the absence of etiological treatment and the need for symptomatic therapy. All data presented in COVID-19 treatment trials have efficacy not more than 65 %, among which lopinavir/ritonavir shows the lowest result (20 %), hydroxychloroquine and tocilizumab show better results (45 and 65 % respectively). Great hope rests on the effectiveness of immunosuppressive therapy. Moreover, all treating methods don’t reduce mortality, which is 13–22 % regardless of the treatment type.