In a rare example of a medical side effect, a 6-month-old baby boy’s dark brown eyes turned deep blue after being treated for a common coronavirus infection.
According to a medical journal Frontiers of PediatricsA baby living in Thailand was diagnosed with the new coronavirus after having a fever and cough for one day. He was treated with the drug Favipiravir for three days, which improved his coronavirus symptoms. However, just 18 hours after starting the medication, the mother observed her baby’s eye color change from dark brown to bright blue.
Doctors ordered her to stop treatment after observing a change in color, but the color returned to its original brown color five days after stopping favipiravir.
“No bluish discoloration was observed in other areas such as the skin, nails, oral mucosa, and nasal mucosa. The symptoms improved within 3 days of favipiravir treatment. , advised the patient to discontinue the treatment. The cornea returned to normal color on the fifth day after stopping the drug,” the authors said. medical report Said.
It is noted that Favipiravir, an antiviral treatment approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health in 2022, is intended for children experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It’s worth it.
In a similar incident, Occurred in 2021, a 20-year-old man in India reported the first occurrence of unusual side effects to treatment. On the second day of Favipiravir treatment, his eyes, which were originally dark brown, turned bright blue.
In the report’s conclusion, medical experts said: “This case report highlights an unusual side effect of favipiravir therapy in the youngest known patient receiving drugs for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.” Stated. Oral antiviral treatment for children with COVID-19, but the safety profile in children who are still developing is unknown. ”