If there is no cure for COVID-19, what are people getting treated for in hospitals?
If there is no cure for COVID-19, what are people getting treated for in hospitals?
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People with severe COVID-19 illness often require medical care due to the symptoms they experience, like trouble breathing, chest pressure, fatigue, etc. While there is no specific treatment or cure for COVID-19, as it is a new viral infection, people are receiving supportive treatment to help them recover, though some people eventually die as a result of the virus. Supportive treatment is treatment that helps to alleviate the symptoms caused by an illness but can't actually cure the illness itself. Supportive care gives symptoms relief while the infection naturally subsides over time, at which point the symptoms diminish greatly and patients can go back home. Examples of this include giving oxygen to a patient, injecting steroids to reduce inflammation, giving ventilation to help them breathe, and other necessary medical interventions that do not stop the virus but do treat the more severe symptoms.
People with severe COVID-19 illness often require medical care due to the symptoms they experience, like trouble breathing, chest pressure, fatigue, etc. While there is no specific treatment or cure for COVID-19, as it is a new viral infection, people are receiving supportive treatment to help them recover, though some people eventually die as a result of the virus. Supportive treatment is treatment that helps to alleviate the symptoms caused by an illness but can't actually cure the illness itself. Supportive care gives symptoms relief while the infection naturally subsides over time, at which point the symptoms diminish greatly and patients can go back home. Examples of this include giving oxygen to a patient, injecting steroids to reduce inflammation, giving ventilation to help them breathe, and other necessary medical interventions that do not stop the virus but do treat the more severe symptoms.
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What our experts say
People with severe COVID-19 illness often require medical care due to the symptoms they experience, like trouble breathing, chest pressure, fatigue, etc. While there is no specific treatment or cure for COVID-19, as it is a new viral infection, people are receiving supportive treatment to help them recover, though some people eventually die as a result of the virus. Supportive treatment is treatment that helps to alleviate the symptoms caused by an illness but can't actually cure the illness itself. Supportive care gives symptoms relief while the infection naturally subsides over time, at which point the symptoms diminish greatly and patients can go back home. Examples of this include giving oxygen to a patient, injecting steroids to reduce inflammation, giving ventilation to help them breathe, and other necessary medical interventions that do not stop the virus but do treat the more severe symptoms.
People with severe COVID-19 illness often require medical care due to the symptoms they experience, like trouble breathing, chest pressure, fatigue, etc. While there is no specific treatment or cure for COVID-19, as it is a new viral infection, people are receiving supportive treatment to help them recover, though some people eventually die as a result of the virus. Supportive treatment is treatment that helps to alleviate the symptoms caused by an illness but can't actually cure the illness itself. Supportive care gives symptoms relief while the infection naturally subsides over time, at which point the symptoms diminish greatly and patients can go back home. Examples of this include giving oxygen to a patient, injecting steroids to reduce inflammation, giving ventilation to help them breathe, and other necessary medical interventions that do not stop the virus but do treat the more severe symptoms.
Context and background
People who are admitted to the hospital need care that cannot be provided at home or in a clinic—whether or not there is a cure or specific treatment for their illness. While hospitalized patients may have had surgery to fix a broken bone, or may be given medicines to cure a bacterial infection or kill cancer cells, other therapies are given to patients to help them feel better even though they cannot cure the illness that actually causes their symptoms. For example, supportive care may include things like oxygen or special inhaled medications to help patients breathe better, fluids given intravenously to prevent or treat dehydration, or medications to decrease inflammation or fever. All of these therapies are commonly used in the hospital, but they are not designed to cure a patient of an infection, cancer, or other condition.
People who are admitted to the hospital need care that cannot be provided at home or in a clinic—whether or not there is a cure or specific treatment for their illness. While hospitalized patients may have had surgery to fix a broken bone, or may be given medicines to cure a bacterial infection or kill cancer cells, other therapies are given to patients to help them feel better even though they cannot cure the illness that actually causes their symptoms. For example, supportive care may include things like oxygen or special inhaled medications to help patients breathe better, fluids given intravenously to prevent or treat dehydration, or medications to decrease inflammation or fever. All of these therapies are commonly used in the hospital, but they are not designed to cure a patient of an infection, cancer, or other condition.
