The highly infectious disease Covid-19 has brought life and economy to a standstill. The panic is rampant because there is no medicine insight. There have been reports that many people have been treated through Plasma Therapy. I will try and make it simple for you to understand.
Plasma: Plasma is the most significant part of blood. If we remove platelets, Red Blood cells and White Blood Cells from blood what remains is plasma. It is the liquid part of the blood that carries nutrients throughout the body. It makes up 55% of total blood volume. It contains water, salts, enzymes, antibodies and other proteins. It plays an integral part in the body functioning – fighting diseases, clotting blood.
Plasma Therapy and Coronavirus:
Plasma Therapy uses blood donated by patients who have recovered to introduce antibodies in those patients who are undergoing treatment.
People who have recovered from COVID-19 develop natural defences to the disease in their blood. These natural defences are called antibodies, and they protect us from bacteria and viruses. The plasma that contains antibodies is called Convalescent plasma.
While treating persons infected by Coronavirus, a part of the blood is taken from patients who have recovered and given to patients who are sick. There have been some reports on patients are being treated by Plasma therapy.
India’s premier research organization, the Indian Council of Medical Research, has stated that there are no approved therapies for Covid-19 including plasma therapy. ICMR is still understanding the efficacy of plasma therapy. This is still part of the clinical trial.
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