The French health ministry is warning against the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and cortisone, to treat symptoms of the coronavirus, but one Cleveland-area doctor would like to see more data before drawing any conclusions.

The Guardian reported Saturday that the French health minister, Olivier Veran, tweeted that taking the anti-inflammatories like Advil and Motrin “could be a factor in aggravating the infection. In case of fever, take paracetamol. If you are already taking anti-inflammatory drugs, ask your doctor’s advice.”

Paracetamol is the same as acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol, said Dr. Amy Edwards, pediatric infectious disease specialist and associate medical director for infection control at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.

“Health officials point out that anti-inflammatory drugs are known to be a risk for those with infectious illnesses because they tend to diminish the response of the body’s immune system,” the Guardian article states.

“The health ministry added that patients should choose paracetamol because ‘it will reduce the fever without counterattacking the inflammation.’ ”

Edwards said she is aware generally of what the French are saying and believes it’s probably based on a single study and therefore she is reluctant to accept any blanket statement. Also, the study would be looking at data from a lab setting and that the results in real life could be different. If more data comes out she might change her mind, she said.

Edwards said if a patient is already on heavy-duty anti-inflammatory drugs for, say, rheumatoid arthritis, taking them to control inflammation brought on by the coronavirus may be a problem. She said as a pediatrician she often advises that children alternate between acetaminophen and ibuprofen. That could work for adults, too, she said although they would have to make sure it doesn’t cause complications with any underlying conditions or other medicines they are taking.

Adults with coronavirus can also chose to take no anti-inflammatory drugs, she said, because inflammation is how the body fights a virus. You don’t have to necessarily lower your temperature if it’s 100 or 101 degrees, she said, because a high temperature fights infection.