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Covid treatment on case-by-case basis: Medical teams

30 Aug 2021

  • Patients urged to monitor symptoms by note taking
  • Warn against unsupervised use of Ayurvedic/indigenous medications
BY Dinitha Rathnayake Medication for the treatment of Covid-19 patients would be considered on an individual case-by-case basis, according to doctors who are part of the medical teams involved in treating Covid-19 patients. Speaking to The Morning, several doctors attached to such medical teams said that patients with mild symptoms will not need any treatment, although that would also be decided following individual investigations. They said that people who are suffering long-term diseases are likely to have a risk, but appropriate care at the appropriate time would minimise the risk of Covid-19. “Patients who are in home quarantine need to monitor their symptoms at home. It is better to take notes on a paper when the initial symptoms set in and note how it progresses. If a Covid-19 patient develops persistent fever or a productive cough or dry cough associated with difficulty in breathing, they need to get admitted to a hospital or be assessed by a medical practitioner as soon as possible,” they said. The medical teams also advised to not wait at home until the disease worsens, as most of the deaths at home have occurred due to this reason, the other reason being taking Ayurvedic or native medications without proper evaluation. They said that persons with comorbidities such as ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes may experience chest pain when they have Covid-19. “It could also be a heart attack because Covid-19 increases the risk of clot formation in veins and arteries. Therefore, patients experiencing unbearable chest pain or exertion-related chest pain need immediate hospital admission,” they noted. They also issued advice on post-Covid-19 care, saying it is one of the most important aspects which the patients should remember as most of the patients will experience fatigue or tiredness. “Some may have the transient loss of sensation or taste for a few weeks to months. If patients experience persistent unrelenting cough, exertion-based tiredness, or exertion-based shortness of breath, it is better to seek a medical opinion. They may need a chest X-ray and other blood assessments or imaging to assess the complications. The other important aspect is that if patients experience tingling or numbness in the hands and feet or weakness in their hands and legs or walking-related difficulties, they need immediate medical attention and care. Sometimes, strokes can be precipitated by Covid-19. Therefore, the transient loss of vision, the slurring of speech, and weakness of the body on one side may be features of a stroke,” they said. They finally advised that motivating the patients, providing healthy food, and keeping them mentally happy are also important when they are under treatment or quarantine.


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