Authors :
Peoli Mukutawat; Kunwar Prativyom; Anita Mukutawat
Volume/Issue :
Volume 5 - 2020, Issue 7 - July
Google Scholar :
http://bitly.ws/9nMw
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/33uKGUq
Abstract :
Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease
caused by a newly discovered novel coronavirus first
reported in 2019. COVID-19 virus has resulted in an
ongoing pandemic. The virus is primarily transmitted
amongst individuals via airborne droplets produced by
coughing, sneezing, and talking. The infected individual
may remain asymptomatic, most of them may have mild
symptoms but some may progress to develop acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Because of the
high rate of transmission of the virus, the number of
COVID-19 pneumonia patients are increasing day by
day. As of now, there is no vaccine to prevent and no
antiviral drug to treat human coronavirus infection.
Low dose of radiation therapy (<100 cGy), unlike
high dose of radiation, has anti-inflammatory effects
which occur due to decrease in pro-inflammatory
cytokines such as IL-6. It is observed that low doses of
kilovoltage X-rays reduce fatality due to pneumonia by
almost 20%. But some studies have also reported
increased uptake, activation, transcription and spread
of some viruses after radiation therapy.
To conclude, low dose radiation therapy (<100
cGy) help to alleviate life-threatening symptoms of
COVID-19 pneumonia. But more research is required
in larger cohort of patients to validate the use of
radiation therapy for COVID-19 pneumonia. Until
then, the use of radiation therapy for COVID-19
pneumonia shall be done very carefully. Radiation
therapy shall only be used as a part of clinical trial or as
a last resort in sickest of the sick patients
Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease
caused by a newly discovered novel coronavirus first
reported in 2019. COVID-19 virus has resulted in an
ongoing pandemic. The virus is primarily transmitted
amongst individuals via airborne droplets produced by
coughing, sneezing, and talking. The infected individual
may remain asymptomatic, most of them may have mild
symptoms but some may progress to develop acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Because of the
high rate of transmission of the virus, the number of
COVID-19 pneumonia patients are increasing day by
day. As of now, there is no vaccine to prevent and no
antiviral drug to treat human coronavirus infection.
Low dose of radiation therapy (<100 cGy), unlike
high dose of radiation, has anti-inflammatory effects
which occur due to decrease in pro-inflammatory
cytokines such as IL-6. It is observed that low doses of
kilovoltage X-rays reduce fatality due to pneumonia by
almost 20%. But some studies have also reported
increased uptake, activation, transcription and spread
of some viruses after radiation therapy.
To conclude, low dose radiation therapy (<100
cGy) help to alleviate life-threatening symptoms of
COVID-19 pneumonia. But more research is required
in larger cohort of patients to validate the use of
radiation therapy for COVID-19 pneumonia. Until
then, the use of radiation therapy for COVID-19
pneumonia shall be done very carefully. Radiation
therapy shall only be used as a part of clinical trial or as
a last resort in sickest of the sick patients