Ambulatory treatment with chloroquine in patients with suspicion of COVID-19 for the reduction of symptoms associated to the infection

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether there is clinical improvement with the administration of chloroquine as outpatient treatment in patients suspected of COVID-19 assessed by the reduction of clinical manifestations associated with viral infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental study was made in patients suspected of COVID-19 who were attended in the respiratory emergency service of the Hospital Juarez de Mexico from June 1st to July 30th, 2020, who received outpatient treatment with chloroquine. The patients were followed up by telephone to find out their health condition. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included, of which 36 were female. The mean age was 41.1 year;the most frequent symptoms were fever, cough and odynophagia;the most persistent symptom was cough (31 out of 50). Also, 24 patients were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and completed their treatment with chloroquine, with persistent descricough;diarrhea, dysgeusia, and symptoms such as nausea, hypogeusia and headache were documented. No patient required a second evaluation in the emergency room or hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical evidence suggests that chloroquine may be useful in reducing the symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 if it is administered in the first five days of the onset of the disease;controlled studies are required to confirm this possibility.