Potential use of azithromycin alone and in combination with ivermectin in fighting against the symptoms of COVID-19.

Objectives: To compare efficacy of azithromycin alone and in combination with ivermectin against the duration of novel corona virus symptoms. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Shah Care Hospital, Peshawar. Period: April 5, 2020 to May 30, 2020. Material & Methods: Total patients included in the study were 100. Patients were divided into two groups by systematic random sampling: Group A: who received AZM (500mg once a day for 5 days), Group B: who received Ivermectin (12mg once a day for 5 days) and AZM (500mg once a day for 5 days). All the participants were informed to revisit hospital as soon as symptoms (at least two of the mentioned symptoms) like fever, fatigue, sore throat, cough, body aches/myalgia, anosmia/hyposmia, ageusia/hypogeusia and diarrhea disappears at least for 3 days (the actual day on which symptom(s) disappeared was noted). They were also advised to revisit hospital if they feel any inconvenience with the treatment or they notice worsening of the symptoms. The efficacy of the two regimens was based on the duration of disappearance of symptoms. RT-PCR was repeated after 15 days of the diagnosis and on day 21 who came positive on day 15. Results: In group A, the symptoms of 34% patients started to disappear during 3-5 days (mean±SD, 4.86 ± 0.42 days) following therapy, it disappeared during 6-8 days (7.18 ± 0.37) in 28% patients, 22% were symptom free during 9-10 days (10.12 ± 0.12), and 16% took ˃10 days to become symptom free (12 ± 0.26). Similarly, 52% of group B patient were relieved during 3-5 days (4.01 ± 0.32) of therapy, 36% were symptom free during 6-8 days (6.32 ± 0.14), symptoms of 8% disappeared during 9-10days (9.06 ± 0.25), and 4% took ˃10 days (11 ± 0.0) to become symptom free. Conclusion: Combination of ivermectin and azithromycin was more effective in making patients symptom free than azithromycin alone.