Quarantine, social distancing, lockdown, isolation – the novel coronavirus has introduced us to a whole new world. All of us are subjected to new safety guidelines and ways of living. Many of us are under restrictions entirely unfamiliar to us and changing so rapidly that it's hard to cope up with the new normal even today.
However, scary this world might look. You still need to survive and take care of your near ones such that they don't get infected by this disease. If you have cough, cold, breathlessness, or fever, how can you tell if you've got COVID-19 or ordinary flu? In both cases, you need to go to your doctor and seek immediate medical care.
If you have been diagnosed corona positive, your doctor might ask you to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine or ask you to seek medical help in severe cases. In this blog, we will be giving you some self-assessment tips to prevent yourself from adverse situations. We have also compiled some general advice and tips for self-care as you stay indoors and when you should rush to a hospitals. Here, you go!
Before that you need to know cases wherein you shouldn’t home quarantine yourself and seek medical help:
The risk of severe illness with COVID-19 increases with age and older adults are at the highest risk.
People with underlying medical conditions also pose a risk for severe illness.
People living in close contact with COVID-19 infected people need to take extra precautions to prevent themselves from getting infected.
People in their 50s and above are at a higher risk to get infected by the COVID-19 than people in their 30s and 40s. The greatest risk is among people aged 85 or older. People falling into this category should prevent themselves from severe illnesses that can result into:
Hospitalization
Ventilator
Intensive care
Death
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, about 8 out of 10 COVID-19 deaths reported in the U.S have been in adults who are 65 years and older.
Researchers have revealed that COVID-19 kills an estimated 13.4% of patients 80 and older, compared to 1.25% of those in their 50s and 0.3% of those in their 40s.
The statistics state that older adults are at an increased risk of hospitalisation or death. Patients with underlying medical conditions should continue to follow a treatment plan and understand the factors that can increase risk of getting severe health issues.
Things to Consider:
Make a point you continue to take your medications and never change your treatment plan without consulting your health care provider.
Stock on at least 30-day supply of prescription and non-prescription medicines. If you don’t have some of them, then speak to a health care provider, pharmacist, or insurer to get an extra supply. By doing this, you’re reducing your trips to the pharmacy.
Learn to recognise danger signs and speak to your doctor right away in case of any inconvenience.
Contact your nearest health centre during any emergencies.
Children can get coronavirus even though the disease seems milder. An infected mother can transfer the disease to the newborn child. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all and recover, but severe cases have occurred.
As in children and adults, the common symptoms include:
Cough
Fever or chills
Runny nose
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Muscle or body aches
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell
Diarrhoea
Headach
Nausea or vomiting, etc.
Caregivers and parents should notice these warning signs like:
Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
Inability to keep down any liquids
New confusion or inability to awaken
Bluish lips
However, the risk can be reduced by masking, distancing, hand washing, and improved ventilation in both children and senior citizens.
Cases when you shouldn’t Home Quarantine
1. Know when to seek medical care:
During the COVID-19 outbreak, you need to seek immediate medical care to lower the risk of COVID-19 spread. It would be best to call ahead before visiting a medical facility, hospitals, clinics and even doctor’s offices as they have special protocols in place in the wake of the novel coronavirus.
Severe symptoms suggest the need for medical attention. We would advise you to call an expert, telemedicine, or your primary doctor if you experience the following:
Experience flu-like symptoms and feel dehydrated even though you are drinking plenty of fluids.
Experience COVID-19 like symptoms such as cough and fever. People over the age of 60 suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, or lung disease.
Witness COVID-19 symptoms or were in direct contact with an infected person.
Seek urgent medical attention (or call 112) if the patient experiences the following:
Experience difficulty in breathing even after doing light activity.
Experience chest pain.
Feel light-headed or confused.
Witness any other worrisome symptoms.
-> In case of mild symptoms, call a medical advice line.
Don't create panic by going straight to a hospital, even if your symptoms are mild. Start by calling a medical advice line or telemedicine if you experience mild symptoms. It would be wise to prevent going to public places, including emergency departments, doctors' offices, hospitals, clinics, and urgent care centres, unless you're seriously ill.
You can pick the virus from such places or spread it to other people. The best alternative is to opt for telemedicine and get proper guidance without spreading the virus and exhausting yourself unnecessarily.
-> Prevent hospitalisation until testing is available widely
Try to go for COVID-19 testing only when it's widely available. This will increase your ability to contain the virus and limit spread. It won't change individual medical care as there's no treatment available for mild symptoms. People having serious symptoms like difficulty in breathing, high fever and likewise need to get hospitalised.
We all know that tests are short in supply and are prioritised for our frontline workers who have had severe symptoms and are exposed to COVID-19 patients. If you don't fall into any one of these categories, then refrain from testing unless public health officials ask you to do so.
2. Unable to incorporate self-care
Viral infections, like COVID-19, leads to dehydration. Even your doctor will ask you to drink plenty of water and rely on soups that contain salt, along with plain water, juice or tea. It's crucial to get yourself dehydrated so that your urine is its normal pale colour and you continue to flush out all the toxins.
You need to remember that not urinating means you need medical attention. In case of any special dietary restrictions due to pre-existing illnesses like kidney diseases, heart failures, and other conditions, make sure you get medical advice from your doctor about fluids you should take.
3. When Over-the-Counter Medications doesn’t work
People suffering from cold or flu can rely on over-the-counter medications for some relief. It's obvious to have some side effects like dry mouth, increased blood pressure and drowsiness.
Flush out your nose and sinuses using saline solution. We believe fever reducers and pain medications like Tylenol (Acetaminophen) can be helpful and even natural ingredients like honey, ginger, and turmeric can be an effective cough homemade remedy.
Disclaimer: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen can worsen your COVID-19 symptoms. Hence, consulting medical practitioner would be the best option to save you from risks.
4. Pregnant mothers and new born at higher risk
It appears that women infected with coronavirus, can in some cases pass the disease to her baby. Infants can be infected shortly after being born. Pregnant women should take extra precautions to avoid getting infected.
According to U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases have occurred.
5. Following public health guidelines is mandatory
Picking up the virus should be the last thing on your mind. Adjust yourself to the new normal and never ignore the advice of your local officials. It’s normal to feel scared or anxious in this scary moment, but all you can do is take the best care of yourself as you stay at home.
We hope this article has given you enough information about when to seek expert care. These tips will undoubtedly ease some of the anxiety. Help yourself by following all the necessary guidelines to avoid unnecessary risks. Don’t make any decisions without talking to your healthcare provider as you stay home safe and sound.
Pranayam Lung and Heart Institute (PLHI) has been an upholding journey of extremely dedicated efforts put together to create a healthy society for the past 38 years. We began with an idea for a comprehensive respiratory healthcare service, available to each of the needful at sufficient rates and with 100% personal care.
We have developed into an ideal module to cure respiratory and cardiac diseases with its latest technology and unmatched skills. Rely on the best COVID- 19 hospital in Vadodara. Contact us today!