Understanding Covid-19

The corona virus got its name because it resembles the shape of a crown. The virus belongs to the SARS family (severe acute respiratory syndrome) & is a type of virus that causes ailments like a common cold, chronic respiratory problems and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This virus was discovered in 2019 in China. It has since lashed throughout the world, causing several medical and economic changes.

The present situationThe second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has really hit the nation hard. The steep rise in the number of cases every day has brought with it a sense of panic and confusion among the general public. It has also been reported that the new mutant strains of the virus that causes Covid-19 infection exhibits some new symptoms which we shall look into going further.

How is COVID-19 transmitted?

When people with COVID-19 cough, sneeze, sing, talk, or breathe they produce respiratory droplets. These droplets can range in size from larger droplets (some of which are visible) to smaller droplets. Small droplets can also form particles when they dry very quickly in the airstream. Infections occur mainly through exposure to respiratory droplets when a person is in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

COVID-19 can sometimes spread by airborne transmission, exposure to the virus via small droplets and particles that can linger in the air for minutes to hours. These viruses may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space.

Thus the key routes of COVID-19 transmission are aerosols & droplets emitted by an infected person & contaminated surfaces:

Droplets fall within 2 meters from an infected person
Aerosols can be carried in the air upto 10 meters.

What does it mean that there is a new COVID-19 variant?

All viruses – including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 – evolve over time. When a virus replicates or makes copies of itself, it sometimes changes a little bit. These changes are called “mutations”. A virus with one or more new mutations is referred to as a “variant” of the original virus.

Old v/s new COVID-19 variants: What is the difference?

The classic signs and symptoms of the COVID-causing virus include a cough, fever, pain and more predominantly, impaired sense of smell.

The newer variants of the SARS-COV-2 are smarter in many ways. Since it may have a better threshold in surpassing immune defenses and antibodies, it is believed that natural antibodies (generated after COVID) may not be fully protective in evading a future course of infection, if you are exposed to the newer mutations.

Thus the new strain spreads faster, is heavily infectious and has the potential to be highly dangerous for every one of us.

Symptoms of the new COVID-19 variant strain

The observed new symptoms of new COVID-19 variant strain are:

Loss of hearing
Extreme weakness
Dry mouth
Skin rashes and irritation

How can we prevent future new variants of the COVID-19 virus?

The Current measures to reduce transmission include:

Frequent hand washing
Wearing a mask
Physical distancing
Good ventilation
Avoiding crowded places

The following practices continue to work against new variants by reducing the amount of viral transmission and therefore also reducing opportunities for the virus to mutate.

COVID-19 tests: Need of the Hour

Testing for COVID-19 can identify you as a positive or negative case of COVID-19. It is very important as you can only get the right treatment or self-isolate if you know that you have contracted the COVID-19 virus.

India has stood relatively strong in the fight against COVID-19 with a strategy “Test, Track and Treat”. Different methods of testing have been launched to trace COVID-19 infection rapidly and efficiently.

Types of COVID-19 tests available

RT-PCR tests:The Molecular test, commonly known as the RT-PCR test, is a method of testing that is used to directly detect the presence of the virus in the sample.A nasal or throat swab sample is taken.The test detects the virus’s RNA, which is the genetic material of the virus. The first step in this test is to convert this RNA to DNA using an enzyme known as the reverse transcriptase. The PCR testing then detects this DNA. Hence the name RT-PCR.
Rapid Antigen Tests: A COVID-19 antigen refers to any foreign matter or viral proteins in the body that triggers an immune response. Usually,a nasal or throat swab sample is taken. This test helps identify the antigens related to the COVID-19 virus. Antigen test, also known as rapid antigen test, is a rapid diagnostic test that gives results faster than molecular tests.
COVID-19 Antibody Tests: COVID-19 Antibody tests are screening tests for COVID-19 antibodies in your blood.It is tested by drawing your blood sample. It tells if you were previously infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. The antibody test does not look for the active virus but checks whether your immune system has responded to the infection.

When to seek medical help for COVID-19?

In case you have minor symptoms like mild cough and fever, consult a doctor online and provide details thoroughly and follow home quarantine. There is no obvious need to visit a doctor in person. Self-isolate and monitor your symptoms for the next 14 days. Do not ignore if your fever increases or if you get any serious symptoms such as breathlessness, mental confusion, or blue lips. These signs may warrant to seek medical help immediately.

Children & the second wave of COVID-19

Experts say that more children are getting infected with COVID-19 in the second wave as the double mutant variant has immune escape phenomena. It masquerades as our own body system and then escapes our immunity protection.

The COVID-19 symptoms observed in kids are:

Fever
Flu-like symptoms
Respiratory tract infection
Digestive symptoms
Changes in the sense of smell
Pain, behavioural changes

Know how to protect the kids during the second wave of COVID-19

Even if they don’t have symptoms, children and others will spread the virus. While mostchildren do not appear to be at high risk of severe illness as a result of COVID-19, somechildren, especially infants and children with underlying medical conditions, do develop severe illness. Follow these guidelines to help protect children and keep them safe during theCOVID-19 pandemic:

Teach them social distancing
Keep them from coming into contact with visitors, unless necessary
No outdoor playtime for kids or meeting friends
Encourage them to play indoor games and organize virtual meets with friends
Ensure that kids above 2 years wear masks properly and not below the nose in public places.

What to do if your child develops fever, cough and sore throat?

Do your best to stay calm
Talk to a healthcare provider
Help your child get plenty of rest and drink lots of liquids
Watch for signs that your child might need more medical help, such as:
Trouble breathing
Fast breathing
Sleepiness
Not being able to eat or drink
Signs of dehydration like peeing less than usual.

Recovering from COVID-19?

Watch out for Black Fungus or Mucormycosis

Mucormycosis is a rare, invasive, fungal opportunistic infection that causes serious, sometimes fatal disease. It occurs most often if you have weakened immunity & is thus affecting COVID-19 patients.

Who are at risk?

Patients who have recently recovered from COVID-19 & had high blood sugar levels
Patients exposed to immunity suppressing steroids

Symptoms of Black Fungus in COVID-19 patients

Pain & redness around eyes or nose
Blurred or double vision
One-sided facial pain, numbness or swelling
Loosening of teeth

Precautions for COVID-19 recovered patients

Regularly monitor blood glucose level
Take proper care of skin injuries like cuts or wounds
Decrease steroid use
Maintain personal hygiene
Stay away from areas with a lot of dust
Use clean & sterile water in humidifiers

This rare but serious fungal infection shows on the skin & can also affect the lungs, eye orbit & brain. If you experience any symptoms, consult our Mucormycosis Management Team.

Self Proning: A Guide to Increase Oxygen Level At Home

Following COVID-19, you may find you have continued breathlessness. You should monitor this and if it gets worse, then seek further review from your doctor. Proning is the process of turning a patient with precise, safe motions, from their back onto their abdomen, so the individual is lying face down. It is a medically accepted position to improve breathing. It is extremely beneficial in COVID-19 patients with compromised breathing, especially during home isolation.

Importance of proning

Prone positioning improves ventilation, keeps alveolar units open and allows proper breathing.
Proning is required only when the patient feels difficulty in breathing and the SpO2 decreases below 94 (less than 94).
Regular monitoring of SpO2, along with other signs like temperature, blood pressure and blood sugar, is important during home isolation.
Timely proning and maintaining good ventilation could save many lives.

For Self-Proning

You will need 4-5 Pillows.
Regular alterations in lying position
Best is to not spend more than 30 minutes in each position.

Precautions to be taken during self proning

Avoid proning for an hour after meals
Maintain proning for only as much times as easily tolerable
One may prone for up to 16 hours a day, in multiple cycles, as felt comfortable
Pillows may be adjusted slightly to alter pressure areas and for comfort
Keep a track of any pressure sores or injuries, especially , around bony prominences.

Avoid Proning in conditions like

Pregnancy
Deep venous thrombosis (Treated in less than 48 hours)
Major cardiac conditions Unstable spine, femur, or pelvic fractures.

Home Isolation for people with COVID-19: Know what to do

Masks:

Always use triple layered mask and dispose mask after 8 hours of using it
If the mask is wet or gets dirty then change it immediately. Before disposing mask, use a hypochlorite solution on it and dispose it in a closed bin
Used mask should be destroyed by cutting it to prevent reuse.

Disinfection at home:

After the patient has been isolated, the other spaces in the house must be disinfected with 1% sodium hypochlorite solution
Use gloves and masks while using the solution
The solution can be used to mop the floor of your house and also clean other surfaces like windows, chairs, switchboards, dining table, toilet etc. Do not use this solution on any metallic surfaces like door knobs, security locks etc. these surfaces will get rusty over time. To clean these surfaces, use any sanitizer.

Safety in room

Always use a separate bathroom and cover the lid before flushing
Windows of your room should always be kept open. In case AC is being used, leave one window open
Be in your room and do not go in other rooms of your house during home isolation.
Avoid touching your face, eyes without washing your hands
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 40 seconds or use a hand sanitiser which has 70% alcohol
Do not share your personal items like towel, utensils etc with rest of your family members

Rest and recovery

Take medicines regularly as advised by your doctor. Do inform your doctor if you are on other medications
During recovery, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
Rest as much as you can and keep yourself hydrated all the time

Emotional connect is equally important

Keep speaking to your friends and family members on phone
You can use this time to catch up on your favourite shows on TV, read a book, play games on laptop/tv
Keep monitoring your health everyday especially temperature
If the symptoms change, speak to your doctors immediately

Improving Indoor Ventilation in Your Home
Understanding and controlling indoor ventilation can improve the quality of the air we breathe and reduce the risk of indoor health concerns including prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from spreading indoors

Understand the importance of improving ventilation in your home

Bringing fresh air into your home helps keep virus particles from accumulating inside
Open doors and windows as much as you can to bring in fresh air
Use fans to improve air flow.

The emotional impact of COVID-19

The experience of having COVID-19 can be very frightening. It is very understandable that the experience can have an emotional impact.

What can help?

Avoid watching too much news or social media if it is making you feel anxious, try limiting yourself to looking at the news once a day
Speak to family and friends
Try to do activities that you find enjoyable and relaxing
Don’t be too hard on yourself if there are some things that you are finding harder to do, remind yourself that recovery takes time
Focus on what is in your control, like eating well and taking ample rest
If you continue to feel overwhelmed by your symptoms, speak to your doctor

Sagar Hospitals offers Total COVID-19 Treatment, Post Covid Care and Mucormycosis Care & Management. Talk to our experts today. Don’t delay care!

Call: 080 4288 8888 (Jayanagar) 080 4299 9999(Banashankari) for more details.
For Video Consultation Click the link https://sagarhospitals.in/book-tele-consultation/