Plasma Therapy For Covid-19 Patients

Several infectious diseases are treated with plasma therapy. Convalescent-plasma therapy is a form of treatment in which recovered patients' blood plasma is provided to people who are actually afflicted with the same disease. For the treatment of COVID-19, convalescent-plasma therapy is being used in many clinical trials around the world. Fever, dry cough, sore throat, tiredness, aches and pains, headaches, and loss of taste and smell are the most common coronavirus symptoms. In most countries, there are two types of COVID-19 examinations. One is a viral examination, which determines whether or not the virus is present in the body at the time of the test. The antibody test, on the other hand, determines whether an individual has had the infection or not.

Plasma therapy includes injecting recovered coronavirus patient's blood plasma into the body of a patient who is still infected with the virus. Antibodies produced by the immune system to combat the virus are found in the recovered person's plasma. Passive immunisation occurs when plasma containing antibodies is injected into the body of a sick person, resulting in the body battling the virus more effectively. As a result, you'll heal faster. COVID-19 plasma therapy is being hailed as a possible treatment for the deadly virus.

Plasma therapy entails collecting blood from COVID 19 patients who have stabilised. Blood is isolated from plasma containing antibodies. After that, the blood is returned to the donor's body. Donors with elevated anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations in their plasma would be the most useful in this therapy. The plasma from the healed patient is sent to the patients who are currently ill. Since antibodies are now present in the body, this aids the patient in fighting the infection. In addition, new antibodies are created.

Plasma Therapy: Myths and Facts

• Fact: It works in a similar way to giving blood or receiving an injection. For a few seconds, you can experience the pricking pain or pinch of a needle. You can also feel the tourniquet's pressure on your shoulder. But not much further! Even the donors say that the whole process was painless for them.
• Myth: A person can get again COVID-19 if they donate plasma
• Fact: Antibodies that have already been formed will stay in your plasma regardless of how often or how often you donate. As a result, it has no bearing on detecting the latest coronavirus.
• Myth: A person might lose weight
• Fact: Plasma donation has little to do with losing weight. After a donation, the body attempts to replace the missing plasma, which requires the expenditure of calories. However, the quantity is insufficient to help you lose weight. Plasma is mostly made up of water. After donating plasma, you can feel dehydrated. That's why doctors recommend drinking plenty of water before and after donating blood.
• Myth: Elderly cannot donate plasma
• Fact: Anyone from the ages of 18 to 60 is eligible to donate. Assuming he recovered successfully from a new Coronavirus infection and tested negative after 14 days of recovery.
• Myth: Plasma donation has many side effects
• Fact: Only qualified professionals, paramedics, and technicians are capable of performing the entire screening and donation procedure. As a result, the risk factor is extremely rare. Since plasma is almost 90% water, you can experience dehydration, dizziness, and exhaustion as a result of dehydration.

Eligibility Criteria for Plasma Therapy

• Convalescent plasma is obtained from the blood of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and have adequate antiviral antibodies.
• The donor must weigh at least 50 kg.
• They must be between 18 and 60 years old.
• They should ideally have had symptoms (fever, cold, cough, etc.) because symptomatic patients are more likely to have anti-SARS-Cov-2 IgG antibodies than asymptomatic patients. If antibodies are present, asymptomatic recovered patients may also donate.
• After a full resolution of symptoms, wait for 28 days.

Frequently Asked Questions