Ivermectin exposures reported to the Poisons Information Helpline in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.
S Afr Med J
; 112(8): 522-525, 2022 08 02.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2269690
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug that has shown in vitro activity against COVID19. Clinical studies supporting ivermectin for COVID19 prevention and treatment are conflicting, with important limitations. Public support for ivermectin is significant, with extensive off-label use despite the conflicting views on its efficacy. Ivermectin tablets and injectable formulations are not registered in South Africa for human use by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. The National Department of Health does not currently recommend the use of ivermectin for COVID19.OBJECTIVES:
To describe cases of ivermectin exposure reported to the Poisons Information Helpline of the Western Cape (PIHWC) before and after publication of the drug's in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2.METHODS:
In a retrospective review, ivermectin-related calls reported to the PIHWC from 1 June 2015 to 30 June 2020 (period 1) were compared with calls received from 1 July 2020 to 31 July 2021 (period 2), dichotomised according to the first publication indicating ivermectin activity against SARS-CoV-2.RESULTS:
Seventy-one cases were screened, and 65 were included for analysis; 19 cases were reported during period 1 and 46 during period 2. During period 2, 25 ivermectin cases (54.3%) were related to COVID19 use. Of these, 24 cases (52.2%) involved veterinary preparations, 3 (6.5%) human preparations and 19 (41.3%) unknown preparations. Fourteen cases (73.7%) during period 1 and 30 (65.2%) during period 2 were reported to be symptomatic. The most common organ systems involved were the central nervous (n=26 cases; 40.0%), gastrointestinal (n=18; 27.7%), ocular (n=9; 13.8%) and dermatological (n=5; 7.7%) systems.CONCLUSION:
Ivermectin-related exposure calls increased during study period 2, probably as a result of ivermectin being used as preventive and definitive therapy for COVID19 in the absence of robust evidence on efficacy, dosing recommendations or appropriate formulations.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Poisons
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
S Afr Med J
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
SAMJ.2022.v112i8.16473
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