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POST-ACUTE OR PROLONGED COVID-19: TREATMENT WITH
IVERMECTIN FOR PATIENTS WITH PERSISTENT, OR POST-ACUTE
SYMPTOMS
Aguirre-Chang, Gustavo; Castillo Saavedra, Eduardo; Yui Cerna, Manuel;
Trujillo Figueredo, Aurora; Córdova Masías, José. Reseach Gate. July 11, 2020.
English translation copy edited by Madeline Oh
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION: It is estimated that between 10 to 45% of people who become ill with
COVID-19 will present with symptoms after the acute stage of the disease. These
symptoms will persist for weeks, developing what is called Persistent or Post-Acute
Symptoms of COVID- 19. There is no consensus, nor has there been a publication on
specific and effective treatment for these cases. Knowledge is quite lacking as to its
etiopathogenesis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 33 patients with Persistent or Post-Acute Symptoms of
COVID-19, who were between weeks 4 and 12 from the onset of symptoms were enrolled
in the present study. Patients whose main symptoms were musculoskeletal such as
fatigue due to muscle weakness, diminished muscle strength and myalgia (muscle pain)
were excluded. The following protocol was followed: in cases with mild symptoms,
Ivermectin was administered at a dose of 0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for
2 days. If patients still had symptoms after the 2 doses, 2 additional days of Ivermectin
treatment were given at the same dose. For cases with moderate symptoms, a dose of
0.4 mg per kilogram of body weight was prescribed for 2 days, followed by 0.2 mg per
kilogram of body weight for 2 additional days. If a patient continued to have symptoms
after the fourth day of treatment, more doses of Ivermectin were indicated. Treatment
then continued for additional days until either clinical improvement was observed, or there
was no longer further clinical improvement with treatment.
RESULTS: 33 adult patients with Persistent or Post-Acute Symptoms of COVID-19 were
treated with Ivermectin. In 94% of the 33 patients, clinical improvement to some degree
(partial or total) was observed after 2 doses of Ivermectin. Total improvement (without
any symptoms) was observed in 87.9% of the patients after the 2 daily doses of
Ivermectin. In 12.1% of patients whose symptoms had not been completely resolved after
the first 2 doses, additional doses of Ivermectin treatment were administered according
to the protocol, and total clinical resolution of symptoms was observed in 94% of cases.
CONCLUSION: The result of the present study demonstrates that clinical improvement
is observed in high percentage of patients with Persistent or Post-Acute Symptoms of
COVID-19 who are treated with Ivermectin.
Given the high number of patients with Persistent Symptoms and a favorable clinical
response seen after receiving this specific treatment, we recommend that additional
clinical studies be carried out on the use of Ivermectin and other drugs to reduce and
eliminate the viral load in these cases.
Key Words: Long hauler, Long COVID, COVID Long term, Persistent Symptoms, Long
Term COVID, Persistent COVID-19, Post-acute COVID-19, Prolonged COVID-19,
Subacute COVID-19, Chronic COVID-19, Ivermectin.