The April 2022 edition of the American Academy of Pediatrics News featured an up-to-date and very informative article.

 

REMDESIVIR, NIRMATRELVIR-RITONAVIR, BARICITINIB CAN BE USED TO TREAT COVID-19 IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

by Ashley Stark, M.D. M.S., FAAP, wrote about discussing medications for the treatment of Covid-19 in children. These medications have been granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration for use in children. The two most useful are Remdesivir (Veklury) and Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid).

 

Remdesivir prevents viral replication of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

 

It can be used within seven days of symptom onset in hospitalized or non-hospitalized patients with Covid-19 and who are deemed at high risk of progression to severe Covid-19.

 

Paxlovid is a combination of two antivirals.

 

Nirmatrelvir inhibits replication of SARS=CoV-2. Ritonavir has no direct anti-viral activity. But it allows high blood levels of Nirmatrelvir to be maintained for a longer time. It can be started within five days of symptoms in children over age 12 years. Again, as in the first medication, it is for patients with documented Covid-19 infection and are deemed to be at high risk for severe infection.

 

At a time when we are bombarded with terrifying news on the media from Washington DC to the Ukraine I felt it would be uplifting to pass on some good news.

 

The development of the vaccine and therapeutic agents to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in such a short time is a marvel in itself. Or, I should say, a miracle; an answer to our collective prayers.

 

It is important that your teens hear good news for a change.

 

Let them know that life on this planet is not doomed by the progression of the pandemic. Give them the hope of prayer if we are to control teen depression and suicide.