What to do if you turn corona positive? An expert explains the next steps as COVID-19 infections surge

 

The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over across the world and in India, the second wave of coronavirus-driven infections continues to add to the number of persons infected with the viruses. In many cases, due to the huge swell in the number of patients, all of a sudden, hospitals are being overwhelmed and admission seems a difficult task. Time is of the essence in getting treated - whether at home or in a hospital. Most cases can be treated by doctors as OPD patients, with the patient in home isolation.

Here is what you must know about:

Till when can you stay at home after getting infected with the novel coronavirus contagion?

How to take care of yourself at home?

When to visit the hospital after spotting certain symptoms?

 

Dos 

1.  If you have mild symptoms then you can stay at home and take treatment. 

2.  Isolate yourself in a separate room that has an attached bathroom.

3.  If you have a low-grade fever then you can take paracetamol.

4.  Check your fever and oxygen levels at least 10-15 times a day. You can set a reminder for that on your mobile.

5.  If the oxygen level is between 94-100 then you need not worry. If it drops below 94 then contact your doctor.

6.  Have a liquid diet, easy to digest food, and drink at least 8-10 glasses of water. 

Don’ts

1.  Don’t take steroids or Remdesivir without a doctor’s prescription if you have mild symptoms.

2.  If the symptoms are severe then stay in touch with your doctor from time to time. 

3.  If the viral load is high, you will get a fever for at least 5-7 days and your oxygen level will show a dip. So, keep checking the fever and oxygen level.

If the oxygen level is going down continuously, then go to the hospital immediately. 

4.  For this, first, try to check with the nearby hospital regarding the availability of beds. Know which hospitals have a ventilator, ICU, or oxygen beds.

5.  For the oxygen cylinder, you will have to contact government agencies. Do not buy oxygen cylinders in black and waste your time. It is important to get an oxygen supply for the patient at the right time.

6.  Do not take any medication without a doctor’s prescription.

7.  Do not google and take medication. Instead, speak to your family doctor.

8.  If symptoms worsen, get the patient admitted to a hospital (even if you have oxygen cylinder arrangements at home) as every moment of critical care matters to save precious lives.

9.  Don’t take treatment at home if symptoms are severe.

10.  High fever for more than 7 days, low oxygen levels, diarrhoea, breathing problems and chest pain are some of the symptoms that indicate you need immediate hospitalisation.

Coronavirus and social distancing: How to have safe romance

Coronavirus fear forced people to lock up indoors and remain safe against the possibility of contracting the deadly virus. 

But, does social isolation also mean that you are trying to distance yourself from conjugal activities?

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Is sex a safe activity, or off the charts entirely? 

Social distancing implies solitude, and separation from the crowd and the media. But to "distance" yourself from the people with whom you share your home is completely impossible.

Whenever it came to enjoying some quality bedroom time, understanding whether it's safe or not can also get a bit confusing.

On the other hand, when condom and contraception sales are on the rise, the medical guidelines of the New York State released a very strict advisory warning to be vigilant about their sexual health. Which makes us wonder, is having sex as healthy as COVID-19 during a pandemic scenario, given that the virus spreads widely by particles?

Therefore, you can have sex safely without fear of coronavirus? 

There really is no one correct answer to that, to be exact.

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Experiencing sexual urges is just about normal. But, despite the propagation of the virus, it allows you to isolate and distance yourself from almost everyone around you.

A lot of virus spreads, like the popular HIV and Zika virus, occur by direct liquid and sexual contact. It typically transmits with coronavirus even by respiratory droplets, saliva, mucus, or fecal droplets whenever an infected person coughs or sneezes within a distance of six feet. Since it is a new and emerging viral type, unlike other similar viruses, there's no definitive evidence that this spreads by sexual transmission.

But, when coronavirus grows and displays flu-like symptoms, experts say that spreading the infection to your spouse can be fairly easy if you're sick or in close touch when symptoms begin to develop. Therefore, it is generally said that if a person has a respiratory condition, it is better to avoid or restrict physical contact. This also means that during these periods, any sort of kissing or hugging is better done away with or put off.

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Therefore, if you stay with someone who is possibly a COVID-19 survivor, any kind of communication should be avoided. Isolation and quarantine are best recommended.

However, if you're with someone who is not sick (and think, in the best of their health), there's not much risk in the comfort of your own sanitized home, if you follow good health practices, before and after intercourse.

In reality, experts also claim that having sex with your partner may be a great way to build intimacy and communicate, reduce anxiety and restlessness that can be experienced by a lot of people with stringent curbs and lock-downs that restrict their movement. Sex releases hormones that reduce pain, alleviate anxiety in times of stress, such as the current coronavirus crisis.

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Hantavirus: Why a coronavirus like pandemic is not possible. What is hantavirus?

An outbreak of the 'hantavirus' has originated in China, taking one man's life, amid the global coronavirus pandemic. It has unquestionably contributed to the people's fear and uncertainty. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, however, said the disease has a very rare human-to-human outbreak. Medical professionals are not afraid of yet another hantavirus-like coronavirus pandemic.

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What is the hantavirus?

“The hantavirus is found in the faeces, saliva or urine of gnawing mammals like rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters, porcupines. It is transmitted to humans only through aerosols released by these into the air. It is only when we inhale these aerosols that we stand a chance of catching the virus.

The preliminary symptoms of the hantavirus infection are fever, muscle aches and dizziness. 

The virus shows in one of two ways. The first is haemorrhagic fever with renal failure and the other is haemorrhagic fever with lung and cardiac involvement. The second one is more deadly.

Does that pose a serious threat to India?

Infections such as hantavirus occur generally in groups. The present cluster is mostly China. The rodents are not very likely to be able to fly to India. "In this epidemic the spread of human to human is nearly equal to zero. Nothing else to worry about as of now.

The hantavirus is clustered all around Europe, the United States and Canada. Indians, however, undoubtedly need to take the same steps they have during the current pandemic. Because of the shorter incubation time the hantavirus is less likely to spread as quickly as the coronavirus.

The hantavirus incubation period is 3-5 days as compared with the coronavirus '2 weeks incubation.

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What precautions should we take?

We are already going through a difficult time because of the coronavirus epidemic which infected nearly 400,000 people across the world. Such measures would need to be taken to stop the hantavirus from presenting potential danger.

It is very essential to maintain the same level of hygiene, and stay away from rats, dead or alive. 

Farmers are more likely to transmit the virus during harvest seasons, i.e. during the spring or fall period. They have to be extra careful not to get in contact with rodents.

Is there a possibility of a coronavirus-like pandemic?

It is hard to say anything as of yet. Various types of viruses include coronavirus and hantavirus. It is nevertheless certain that China should not take lightly one situation.

Epidemics appear to arise during the disease's infection periods. The patient is treated early on in serious illnesses such as those caused by hantavirus. That controls the disease's spread.

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4 ways to keep your lungs healthy in the Corona virus pandemic

By now we all realize that the novel infection with coronavirus has signs close to those of regular flu, which can get serious. Novel coronavirus affects the lungs and intensifies the mucus, which makes breathing very hard.

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This reality makes us worry about their respiratory health. People are finding ways to enhance their immunity and keep their lungs safe, save themselves from the deadly virus. Good lungs are after all a survival mechanism for our immune system.

In this article I'll tell you five simple ways to maintain good lungs. Yet let's see before that why our body wants the mucus?

Why does our body need mucus?

Our body requires mucus, as it serves as a mechanism of defence. If we breath any germ or virus, it is captured in the lungs by the mucus which protects it from entering our body further. Later the body removes such mucus by sneezing, coughing or getting a runny nose. The issue comes about when so much mucus is made up in your lungs. People with COPD, bronchitis and asthma have more mucus in the lungs.

Our body needs to break down the mucus quickly to maintain our lungs fit and fight the germs. That's what you should do here.

4 ways to keep your lungs healthy in the coronavirus pandemic

1. Methi (fenugreek seeds)

Take a tablespoon of fenugreek seeds and boil them in a glass of water for 4-5 minutes, strain and drink it warm. You can have one-two cups in a day. It will break down your mucus, which your body expels later.

Stored mucus is a breeding ground for bacteria, parasites and bacteria or viruses. The only way to maintain the lungs safe is to break down the mucus as soon as possible.

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2. Pranayama and exercise

Deep breathing similarly helps us break down the mucus and remove it from the body. Exercise lets us take a deep breath; the deeper we breath, the more mucus breaks.

3. Salt water gargle

Boil glass of water with 1-2 teaspoon of salt in it. Now let it cool down to lukewarm and then gargle with it. This easy remedy also helps in breaking down the mucus.

4. Steam

If you have a boiler at home, use that or you can just boil water in a big bowl and cover your face with a towel and take some steam from it. The water's hot air helps to remove the excess mucus, and therefore keeps the lungs safe.

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