How Does Chloroquine Work and Why Do Some People Think It Might Treat Coronavirus?
What is Chloroquine?
Chloroquine is an anti-malarial medication. However, there is confusion as to why this drug might be effective against Coronavirus. An Arizona couple even died after erroneously taking the tablet version of Chloroquine (chloroquine phosphate) instead of the anti-malarial human drug (Chloroquine HCL).
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a a parasitic infection, commonly spread through flies, that occurs often in Africa. The parasite, which are actually multiple species strain from the genus plasmodium, is actually a living organism that lives and replicates inside their host. This means it has all the thing’s any other living cell (including bacteria) would such as a nucleus, ribosomes, etc… The parasite typically targets the liver followed by red blood cells, using these cells resources to help it reproduce, destroying the cells in the process.
How are malarial parasites and corona virus different?
The Corona Virus (SARS-CoV-2) is , as described in its name, a virus. Viruses and parasites are fundamentally different. Virus and Parasites are first completely different in size. The Coronavirus is approximately .06 to .14 microns. A malarial parasite is between 1–20 microns. This is 10–100 fold…
