Home > Journals > Indian Journal of Communicable Diseases

Indian Journal of Communicable Diseases

Submit your article Read this Journals View all journals
Full Text (PDF)
Original Article

Prophylactic use of Hydroxychloroquine in Prevention of Covid-19 A Survey

Akashkumar N Singh , Akashkumar N Singh

Author Information

Licence:



Indian Journal of Communicable Diseases 7(1):p 15-18, January-June 2021. | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijcd.2395.6631.7121.2

How Cite This Article:

Akashkumar N Singh, Prophylactic use of Hydroxychloroquine in Prevention of Covid-19 A Survey. Indian J Comm Dis.2021;7 (1):15–18.

Timeline

Received : N/A         Accepted : N/A          Published : N/A

Abstract

Objective: The primary outcome of this study was to assess how many HCWs were taking HCQ as a prophylaxis
and to understand about its use including safety. Materials and Methods: This was a focused questionnaire based
online survey of Health Care Workers (HCWs) exposed to COVID 19patients, at various tertiary care centres in
India. Results: Among the 408 participants, 395 (96.5%) were HCWs and 13 (3.2%) were non-HCWs. Among
the 395 HCWs (96.5%), 32 HCWs (8.1%) were involved as COVID-19 frontline staff only; 274 HCWs (69.3%)
were involved as practicing doctors running OPDs/medical practice and 89 HCWs (22.5%) were actively
involved as both COVID-19 frontline staff and practicing doctor running OPDs/medical practice. Among the 253
HCWs (64%) who have taken HCQ [227 HCWs (89.7%) as per ICMR recommended dose and 26 HCWs
(10.3%) varying dosages of HCQ]; 1 HCW (0.4%) was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the prophylactic use of
HCQ and 1 HCW (0.4%) had experienced increased risk factor – Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB) in ECG.
Adverse events such as pigment epithelium detachment of right eye, hypoglycemia; diarrhea, gastritis and skin
pruritis; nausea and migraine and headache were experienced by 6 HCWs (2.4%).Conclusions: This study
demonstrated that majority of HCWs embrace the use of HCQ despite the fact that it is an off-label drug for
COVID-19 and no significant evidence is available on its safety and efficacy. Furthermore, the use of HCQ
among HCWs did not cause any serious adverse effects or increase in co-morbidities or risk factors.


Keywords: COVID-19; Hydroxychloroquine; Health Care Workers; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.
 

References

No records found.


About this article

Cite this article

Akashkumar N Singh, Prophylactic use of Hydroxychloroquine in Prevention of Covid-19 A Survey. Indian J Comm Dis.2021;7 (1):15–18.

Licence:



Received Accepted Published
N/A N/A N/A
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijcd.2395.6631.7121.2

Keywords


Article Level Metrics

Last Updated

Wednesday 17 June 2026, 19:35:46 (IST)

557

Accesses

2
217
00

Citations


NA
NA
NA

Download citation


Article Keywords

Keyword Highlighting

Highlight selected keywords in the article text.


Timeline

Received N/A
Accepted N/A
Published N/A

licence




Access this article

Reprint Order Form
Buy this Article
Institutional Subscriptions

Share