COVID-19 treatment today: care by severity and timely assessment
Many people with non-severe illness need supportive care, but people at higher risk may benefit from antivirals that need to be started early.
Care is individual
Severity, age, underlying conditions, immune status, time since symptoms began and current medicines all matter. Mild illness often needs rest, fluids and appropriate symptom relief with monitoring for worsening.
Antivirals for people at higher risk
Some antiviral treatments work best when started early. A clinician must check kidney and liver function, pregnancy and medicine interactions. Do not use another person’s medicine or self-start steroids or antivirals.
Severe illness needs hospital care
People with low oxygen levels or organ dysfunction require supervised care. Antibiotics do not treat viral infection unless a clinician identifies a bacterial infection as well.
Sources
Related guides
Older adults and higher-risk people: when to contact a clinician for COVID-19
Older age, immune suppression and some chronic conditions can raise the risk of severe illness. Early clinical contact allows treatment options to be assessed in time.
COVID-19 antiviral treatment: who should contact a clinician quickly
Antiviral treatment can reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 for some higher-risk people, but timing, health history and medicine interactions matter.
This content is general information, not a diagnosis or individual medical advice. Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.