1. What are the clinical manifestations of COVID-19?
The onset of COVID-19 is mainly manifested as fever, but some early patients may not have fever, with only chills and respiratory symptoms, which can occur together with mild dry cough, fatigue, poor breathing, diarrhea etc. However, runny nose, sputum and other symptoms are rare. Patients may gradually develop dyspnea. In severe cases, the disease can progress rapidly, causing acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, irreversible metabolic acidosis, and coagulation disorders in just a matter of days. Some patients start out with mild symptoms without fever. The majority of patients have a good prognosis, while a few become critically and sometimes fatally ill.
2. Do you know something on laboratory testing for COVID- 19?
2019-nCoV can be identified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). For each case, specimens to be tested should be from lower respiratory tracts, such as bronchial/alveolar lavage fluid and deep sputum. Also, serum samples should be collected both at the onset of symptoms and after 14 days.
In the early stages of the disease, the white blood cell count stays normal or lower, but the lymphocyte count is decreased. While some patients have elevated liver enzymes, muscle enzymes, and myoglobin, most patients have elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The procalcitonin levels stay normal and D-dimer is elevated in severe cases.
3. What are the characteristics of COVID-19 chest films?
In the early stages, chest films feature multiple small patchy shadows and interstitial changes, especially in the peripheral third of the chest, which then progress to bilateral ground glass opacities and pulmonary infiltrates. In severe cases, pulmonary consolidations and even “white-out” of the lungs are seen. Pleural effusions are rare.
4. How to identify COVID-19 cases clinically?
Persons who meet both the following conditions are considered suspected cases.
1) Epidemiological history. The case has a travel or residence history in the epidemic areas within two weeks of the onset, or had a contact(s) with patients from the epidemic areas within 14 days of the onset, or other patients with fever and respiratory symptoms in the communities with reported cases or clustered outbreak.
(2) Clinical features. The most common symptom is fever. Some patients may not present with fever, but only chills and respiratory symptoms. Chest films show characteristics of viral pneumonia. During the early stage of the disease, white blood cell count is normal or below normal, while lymphocyte count may decrease.
5. How to confirm COVID-19 cases?
Once a case is identified as a suspected case, a positive result for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid on rRT-PCR testing of specimens (sputum, throat swabs, lower respiratory tract secretions etc.) or highly homologous sequences to the known novel coronavirus found after gene sequencing of the virus from a patient can confirm the diagnosis.
6. How to diagnose severe COVID-19 cases?
Severe cases refer to patients with unstable vital signs and rapid disease progression, with dysfunction or even failures of more than two organ systems. The progression of the disease may endanger the lives of patients.
7. What is the difference between COVID-19 and other pneumonia?
(1) Bacterial pneumonia. Common symptoms include coughing, coughing up sputum, or exacerbation of the original respiratory symptoms, with purulent or bloody sputum, with or without chest pain. It is generally not considered a contagious disease.
(2) SARS/MERS. Although the novel coronavirus is in the same family as SARS and MERS coronaviruses, a genetic evolution analysis shows that it belongs to a different branch of the same subgroup. It is neither a SARS nor a MERS virus, based on the viral genomic sequences. Due to the similarities between COVID-19-and SARS/MERS-caused pneumonia, it is challenging to distinguish them with clinical manifestations and imaging results. Therefore, a pathogen identification test by rRT-PCR is needed.
(3) Other viral pneumonia. Pneumonia caused by influenza virus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and other coronaviruses.
8. What should close contacts do with notice from Center of Disease Control?
Please follow the self-monitoring instructions and stay at home. Don’t panic. Don’t go to work. Don’t go out too often. Perform daily checks of health condition and report the records to the authority, and follow up with your community doctors regularly. If fever, cough or other symptoms appear, please go to community health centers for further evaluation and treatment.
9. What should I do if I am possibly infected with COVID-19?
Promptly go to the local designated medical institution for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. When a seeking medical attention for a possible infection of 2019-nCoV, you should inform your doctor about your recent travel and residence history, especially if you’ve been to the epidemic areas recently, and any history of contact with pneumonia patients or suspected 2019-nCoV cases, and animals. It is extra important to note that surgical masks should be worn throughout the visit to protect yourself and others.
10. How to choose a medical institution for treatment?
Isolation and treatment should be performed in a hospital with proper conditions for isolation and protection. Critical cases should be admitted to an ICU as soon as possible.
11. What should be done if a patient requires transportation?
Patients should be transported in designated vehicles that are regularly disinfected and manned with well protected personnel.
12. Are there any drugs or vaccines against COVID-19?
At present, there are no specific antiviral treatments against COVID-19. Patients generally receive supportive care to relieve symptoms. Avoid irresponsible or inappropriate antimicrobial treatment, especially in combination with broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
There is currently no vaccine against the new disease.
Developing a new vaccine may take a while.
13. How to treat COVID-19?
(1) Put patients to bed rest, provide with supportive care, maintain good hydration and electrolyte balance, internal homeostatis, and closely monitor vital signs and oxygen saturation.
(2) Monitor routine blood and urine test results, C-reactive protein (CRP), biochemical indicators (liver enzyme, myocardial enzyme, renal function, etc.), and coagulation function accordingly. Perform an arterial blood gas analysis when needed, and regularly review chest X-ray images.
(3) According to the changes in oxygen saturation, provide a timely effective oxygen therapy, including nasal catheter, oxygen mask, transnasal high-flow oxygen therapy, and noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, etc.
(4) Antiviral therapy: There are currently no antiviral drugs with good efficacy.
(5) Apply antibacterial drug treatment: strengthen bacteriological monitoring, and start antibacterial treatment when there is evidence of secondary bacterial infection.
(6) Traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Treat according to the syndrome.
14. What are the clinical criteria for quarantine release and discharge?
(1) The condition of the patient is stable and fever has subsided.
(2) Lung imaging shows a significant improvement with no sign of organ dysfunction.
(3) The patient has had stable breathing, clear consciousness, unimpaired speech, normal diet and body temperature for more than 3 days. Respiratory symptoms have improved significantly, and two consecutive tests for respiratory pathogenic nucleic acid have been negative (at least one day in-between tests).
CONTACT:
AADHAVAN
SIDDHASHRAM PVT LTD
Aadhavan
Varmalaya
No1/27,
Ground Floor,
Cityone
Tower, Thiruveethiamman Kovil Street,
Koyambedu,
Chennai – 600107
(Near by
SRS Travels)
Office No:
044-48593187
SPECIALIST
IN:
Sexual
Disorder, Infertility, Menstrual Disorder,Diabetes, Arthritis, Epilepsy, Skin
Diseases,Obesity, Kidney Stones, Asthma & Piles
OUR
BRANCHES:
Karur -
Pondicherry - Madurai - Trichy – Salem - Coimbatore
For
Appointment : 8608400035
Our
Consulatants Dr's 8124076667, 8124176667
What's-app
groups 9176176667
www.drarunchinniah.com
www.drarunchinniah.in
www.azoospermiaa.com
Follow
Us
https://www.facebook.com/AadhavanSiddhashramPvtLtd/
https://www.facebook.com/TamilSiddhaMaruthuvam/
https://twitter.com/Aadhavan_Siddha
Subscribe
Our YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/AadhavanSiddhaTV/
https://www.youtube.com/PaliyalManthiramTV2/