Respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan's latest views on COVID-19

Editor's note: On Tuesday evening, Zhong Nanshan, a leading respiratory disease expert, was invited to participate in an online live broadcast hosted by Tencent to share his latest views on COVID-19.

Will the patient have sequelae, or lasting conditions, after recovering from COVID-19?

Those healed from COVID-19 showed some decrease in lung function in general, especially in diffusion function, which means the efficiency of air exchange between alveolar capillaries would be affected. But it is believed that it will gradually recover over time. So far, the interval has been relatively short, so the patient has had to be reviewed.

How effective is traditional Chinese medicine in fighting against the epidemic?

Chinese medicine has some certain effects on the prevention and control of COVID-19.

For example, Lianhua Qingwen medicine might be a little weaker against novel coronavirus pneumonia, but it has a good inhibitory effect on damage to tissue cell inflammation caused by the epidemic. And it's proved effective to reduce fever, cough, and speed up recovery.

Consisting of five herbal extracts, Xuebijing, an injection developed and marketed during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003, can relieve symptoms and reduce the rate of fatalities.

We can't judge if the Chinese medicine or western medicine treatment is effective just based on impressions, but prove it according to medical methods.