Two widely prescribed steroids - dexamethasone and methylprednisolone - are used for Covid patients in India to reduce the inflammation caused by the body's immune response. However, with hospitals and doctors overwhelmed by a growing numbers of cases, there's evidence that these steroids are being taken without medical supervision. The Indian authorities have recently warned against such self-medication, which can have seriously harmful consequences including, says Dr Denning, such as an increased the risk of developing mucormycosis. However, some states in India are reported to have distributed dexamethasone to the public along with home isolation kits.
Shruti Menon, ‘Black fungus: Is diabetes behind India's high number of cases?’, BBC
