ByPuja Gupta
July 31, 2020 (IANSlife) As the wait for the COVID-19 vaccine continues, the battle rages on. Scores of people have tested positive for the novel Coronavirus, many have succumbed, and many more have recovered from the infection as well.
For those patients who successfully overcome the virus, social media is inundated with requests that they donate their plasma for Convalescent Plasma Therapy - a treatment considered to be beneficial to patients who have tested positive.
‘Plasma’ is the liquid component in the blood that carries antibodies, hormones and various nutrients across the body. Convalescent Plasma is the plasma collected from people who were infected and have made a complete recovery; these people develop antibodies which are of vital importance. Antibodies are proteins used by the body to fight off infections and thus provide immunity to those who have beaten COVID19. The plasma of these patients is transfused into the blood of patients are fighting COVID19.
The therapy may be specifically beneficial to those who are extremely sick and haven’t responded to other treatments - often developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), which may require ventilator support, informs Dr Farah Ingale.
“While there isn’t sufficient data to back its efficacy, Convalescent Plasma Therapy is reported to help patients who are at higher risk, such as those with comorbidities like heart disease or Diabetes, or those who have weakened immune systems,” stated Dr Ingale, who is Director-Internal Medicine, Hiranandani Hospital Vashi, tells IANSlife.
A donor must wait up to 14-28 days after full recovery before being approved to donate, the person must:
HOW IS PLASMA COLLECTED?
ARE REPEAT PLASMA DONATIONS DONE?
It is important to note that the treatment is at an experimental stage and is not yet proven to be fully effective for COVID19, the doctor concludes.
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Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in
Photo editing and formatting by N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe