A 72-year-old man from Bristol, Dave Smith, recovered from Covid after more than 290 days of illness, almost 10 months, totaling a record of 42 positive swabs and 7 hospitalizations. For 5 times he found himself dying, now he is finally cured thanks to a cocktail of 2 antibodies developed by Regeneron, the same ones that were used to treat Donald Trump.
This is what the Guardian, who interviewed him, reports: “My wife – said the man – began the preparations for my funeral 5 times. The patient had already compromised immune system due to previous illnesses and therefore developed a form of “Remitting-relapsing” Covid.
Thus Covid knocks out our immune system
by Giuseppe del Bello
Smith has been granted access to the drug through a “compassionate use” program, whereby unauthorized therapy can be administered if no other satisfactory approved treatment exists. However, the drug is no longer available on this basis and is not yet clinically approved for use in the UK.
Few patients of this type, explained a consultant from the National Health Service, Ed Moran, but it is important to guarantee them access to treatment, also to avoid the risk of new variants of the virus developing during these long infections.
Long Covid, what the doctor can do to treat the symptoms
by Irma D’Aria
Dave Smith used to be a driving instructor and is now retired. His case will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in July. The man was hospitalized in May 2020 with cough and fever. The test confirmed his positivity. Discharged, he was hospitalized several times in August, September, October and December.
Covid: “I can’t even pack my suitcase”. Healed for six months, but her brain is still trapped
by Donatella Zorzetto
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