COVID-19: What to ask your Doctor
The past few months have changed our outlook towards the world we live in, almost as if it is a completely new place! Here is my attempt at throwing some light on the one thing that changed everything – COVID – 19.
What is COVID – 19?
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses which cause respiratory illness such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in animals and/or humans. The newest type was discovered in 2019 and has been termed COVID – 19 or COronaVIrus Disease 2019. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and it is now a global pandemic.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
Fever
Dry cough and cold
Tiredness
Symptoms such as cough with shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of speech; less common symptoms such as aches and pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, rash on skin and discoloration of fingers or toes may be seen. WHO statistics so far show that most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment.
How does COVID – 19 spread?
The disease spreads through droplets from nose / mouth expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or speaks that can survive on objects and surfaces such as tables, doorknobs and handrails for up to 72 hours. Any individual can contract COVID-19 when they breathe in these droplets. If a person touches these objects and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth, they stand a risk of contracting the virus.
Can animals spread it?
Several dogs and cats in contact with infected humans have tested positive for COVID-19 and may be potential carriers of the virus.
Who is at higher risk?
All age groups are potentially likely to become infected and spread the disease. However, older people and those with underlying chronic medical problems are at a higher risk of developing serious illness.
What should I do if I have symptoms?
If you have minor symptoms, such as a slight cough or a mild fever, do inform the local Government body immediately. In mild cases, it is likely that there is no need to seek medical care. Stay at home, self-isolate, monitor your symptoms and follow national guidelines on social distancing. Seek immediate medical care if you have difficulty breathing or pain/pressure in the chest.
After how long do symptoms show up?
The time between exposure and when symptoms start is commonly 5 – 6 days but can range from 1 – 14 days.
What do you do if you come in contact with a positive patient?
If you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, you may be infected.
If ill, even with very mild symptoms, you must self-isolate.
The infection is more likely to spread in the early stages when symptoms are mild, therefore early self-isolation is very important.
If you do not have symptoms, but have been exposed to an infected person, self-quarantine for 14 days.
If you have COVID-19 (confirmed by a test) self-isolate for 14 days.
What is the importance of masks?
Medical masks must be worn by every person in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Medical masks should ALWAYS be combined with other infection prevention and control measures such as hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water every couple hours) and physical distancing (minimum of 6 feet or 2 meters).
Can I catch COVID-19 from the feces of someone with the disease?
WHO suggests, while initial investigations showed that the virus may be present in feces, there have not been reports of fecal-oral transmission. Additionally, there is no evidence to date on the survival of the COVID-19 virus in water or sewage.
Are antibiotics effective in preventing or treating COVID-19?
Antibiotics do not work against viruses; they only work against bacterial infections. In hospitals physicians sometimes use antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections which can be a complication of COVID-19 in severely ill patients. However, they should only be used under the direction of a physician.
Various Homeopathic remedies and natural substances help build and boost natural immunity. They act as preventives as well as in helping fight the infection and stimulating recovery. It is best to see a Homeopath / natural health care practitioner to understand what remedies may be best suited for you based on your past and current medical history.
