Hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial, is being used worldwide for prophylaxis and treatment of Corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19). Though the drug is commonly used in many chronic inflammatory diseases for protracted periods, its safety in the new indication is still under scrutiny. Therefore, this institute based study sought to assess the acute adverse effects of hydroxychloroquine among in-house health care professionals who were taking the drug for COVID-19 prophylaxis. A questionnaire seeking information on the use of the drug was prepared and disseminated electronically to the target population. The responses were also received electronically and analysed. The participants (n=54) had taken prophylaxis for 1-7 weeks. The most common adverse effects in the cohort were nausea (02) and skin rash (02). The total number of adverse effects reported by the participants was 08. One incidence each of gastric upset (01), dizziness (01), pain abdomen (01), and chest tightness (01) was reported. None of the adverse effects were serious. Our study indicates that the prophylactic weekly single dose of hydroxychloroquine is not associated with any serious adverse effects within 1-7 weeks of initiation. Elucidation of the long term and chronic adverse effects, if any, requires further studies.

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羟氯喹预防对医护人员COVID-19的急性影响–在线调查

羟氯喹是一种抗疟疾药物，已在全球范围内用于预防和治疗日冕病毒病19（COVID-19）。尽管该药物长期用于许多慢性炎性疾病，但其在新适应症中的安全性仍在审查中。因此，该基于研究所的研究试图评估正在服用该药物预防COVID-19的内部卫生保健专业人员中羟氯喹的急性不良反应。编写了一份调查表，以寻求有关药物使用的信息，并通过电子方式分发给目标人群。答复还通过电子方式收到并进行了分析。参与者（n = 54）进行了1-7周的预防。在该人群中最常见的不良反应是恶心（02）和皮疹（02）。参与者报告的不良反应总数为08。据报道，胃不适（01），头晕（01），腹痛（01）和胸闷（01）分别发生一种。没有一个副作用是严重的。我们的研究表明，预防性每周一次羟氯喹的预防与开始后1-7周内没有任何严重的不良反应有关。长期和慢性不良反应（如有的话）的阐明需要进一步的研究。