In Brief
– On Tuesday WHO said that people suffering COVID-19 symptoms should avoid taking ibuprofen after French officials warned that anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen effects of the virus. However, the WHO has backtracked on that information saying that there are no medical facts backing that claim.
There are no medical facts backing claims that the use of ibuprofen has negative effects on coronavirus patients says The World Health Organization.
“Based on currently available information, WHO does not recommend the use of ibuprofen.” WHO wrote on Twitter.
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The clarification comes after WHO on Tuesday, said that people suffering COVID-19 symptoms should avoid taking ibuprofen after French officials warned that anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen effects of the virus.
The warning by French Health Minister Olivier Veran followed a recent study in The Lancet medical journal that hypothesised that an enzyme boosted by anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen could facilitate and worsen COVID-19 infections.
WHO’s spokesman Christian Lindmeier who was queried on the matter told journalists that experts were “looking into this to give further guidance.”
“In the meantime, we recommend using rather paracetamol and do not use ibuprofen as a self-medication. That’s important,” he said.
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