Conventional and Nonconventional Therapies for COVID-19 Management in Trinidad

Overview

Journal Scientifica (Cairo)

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Dec 2

PMID 39618689

Authors

Mohammad Sani Ismaila

Kavita Ranjeeta Lall

Kezia Sookram

Venkatesan Sundaram

Kegan Romelle Jones

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study investigated nonconventional therapies for COVID-19 in Trinidad, emphasizing the need for documentation supporting future pharmaceutical research. The survey, conducted from June 20 to July 19, 2022, garnered responses from 57 participants aged 18 and above, with 82.46% vaccinated. The majority (81%) utilized both conventional and nonconventional therapies, revealing insights for potential alternatives to traditional treatments. Conventional treatments, including antibiotics, Ivermectin, anti-inflammatories, analgesics, bronchodilators, and cough/flu syrups, were frequently reported. Nonconventional therapies encompassed vitamins, minerals, supplements, and various plant and animal products. When participants used conventional therapies, either alone or in combination with nonconventional ones, 13.21% reported side effects. These included severe thirst, headache, nausea, drowsiness, and one case of weight gain. Conversely, those exclusively using nonconventional treatments reported no side effects. Encouragingly, nonconventional therapies demonstrated promising effects in managing COVID-19, emphasizing the need for meticulous selection, research, and development of their bioactive compounds as potential alternatives to conventional therapies.

References

Ren X, Zhou J, Guo J, Hao C, Zheng M, Zhang R . Reinfection in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review. Glob Health Res Policy. 2022; 7(1):12. PMC: 9051013. DOI: 10.1186/s41256-022-00245-3. View

OSullivan S, Stevenson C, Laviolette S . Could Cannabidiol Be a Treatment for Coronavirus Disease-19-Related Anxiety Disorders?. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2021; 6(1):7-18. PMC: 7891214. DOI: 10.1089/can.2020.0102. View

Sreepadmanabh M, Sahu A, Chande A . COVID-19: Advances in diagnostic tools, treatment strategies, and vaccine development. J Biosci. 2021; 45. PMC: 7683586. View

Fawzi Mahomoodally M . Traditional medicines in Africa: an appraisal of ten potent african medicinal plants. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013; 2013:617459. PMC: 3866779. DOI: 10.1155/2013/617459. View

Brouqui P, Colson P, Melenotte C, Houhamdi L, Bedotto M, Devaux C . COVID-19 re-infection. Eur J Clin Invest. 2021; 51(5):e13537. PMC: 8250303. DOI: 10.1111/eci.13537. View

McLaughlin L, Clarke L, Khalilidehkordi E, Butzkueven H, Taylor B, Broadley S . Vitamin D for the treatment of multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis. J Neurol. 2018; 265(12):2893-2905. DOI: 10.1007/s00415-018-9074-6. View

Hall V, Foulkes S, Insalata F, Kirwan P, Saei A, Atti A . Protection against SARS-CoV-2 after Covid-19 Vaccination and Previous Infection. N Engl J Med. 2022; 386(13):1207-1220. PMC: 8908850. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2118691. View

Rahman S, Rahman M, Miah M, Begum M, Sarmin M, Mahfuz M . COVID-19 reinfections among naturally infected and vaccinated individuals. Sci Rep. 2022; 12(1):1438. PMC: 8792012. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05325-5. View

Alyami H, Orabi M, Aldhabbah F, Alturki H, Aburas W, Alfayez A . Knowledge about COVID-19 and beliefs about and use of herbal products during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Pharm J. 2020; 28(11):1326-1332. PMC: 7462475. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2020.08.023. View

10.

Braun A, Litonjua A, Moromizato T, Gibbons F, Giovannucci E, Christopher K . Association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and acute kidney injury in the critically ill. Crit Care Med. 2012; 40(12):3170-9. DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e318260c928. View

11.

Rauf A, Abu-Izneid T, Olatunde A, Khalil A, Alhumaydhi F, Tufail T . COVID-19 Pandemic: Epidemiology, Etiology, Conventional and Non-Conventional Therapies. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(21). PMC: 7662254. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218155. View

12.

Snyder J, Zenone M, Caulfield T . Crowdfunding for complementary and alternative medicine: What are cancer patients seeking?. PLoS One. 2020; 15(11):e0242048. PMC: 7679016. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242048. View

13.

Omokhua-Uyi A, van Staden J . Natural product remedies for COVID-19: A focus on safety. S Afr J Bot. 2021; 139:386-398. PMC: 7970016. DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2021.03.012. View

14.

Vasireddy D, Vanaparthy R, Mohan G, Malayala S, Atluri P . Review of COVID-19 Variants and COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy: What the Clinician Should Know?. J Clin Med Res. 2021; 13(6):317-325. PMC: 8256910. DOI: 10.14740/jocmr4518. View

15.

Malinowska B, Baranowska-Kuczko M, Kicman A, Schlicker E . Opportunities, Challenges and Pitfalls of Using Cannabidiol as an Adjuvant Drug in COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(4). PMC: 7922403. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041986. View

16.

Iacobucci G, Mahase E . Covid-19 vaccination: What's the evidence for extending the dosing interval?. BMJ. 2021; 372:n18. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n18. View

17.

Jain V, Iyengar K, Garg R, Vaishya R . Elucidating reasons of COVID-19 re-infection and its management strategies. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2021; 15(3):1001-1006. PMC: 8102074. DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2021.05.008. View

18.

Esposito G, Pesce M, Seguella L, Sanseverino W, Lu J, Corpetti C . The potential of cannabidiol in the COVID-19 pandemic. Br J Pharmacol. 2020; 177(21):4967-4970. PMC: 7300643. DOI: 10.1111/bph.15157. View

19.

Lee P, Eisman J, Center J . Vitamin D deficiency in critically ill patients. N Engl J Med. 2009; 360(18):1912-4. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc0809996. View

20.

Orisakwe O, Orish C, Nwanaforo E . Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and Africa: Acclaimed home remedies. Sci Afr. 2020; 10:e00620. PMC: 7605786. DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00620. View