The outbreak of COVID-19 is far more than Health crisis. COVID-19 is not only affecting healthcare systems but also our economic activity. However, it has rapidly spread around the globe, poising enormous environment and social challenges to the human population. In addition, all the nations are facing trouble to slow down the transmission of disease by testing, treating and quarantining the patients who are suspected. Also, in this COVID-19 Pandemic one needs to be strong Physiologically and Mentally.
Physiologically
- One should develop positive thoughts.
- Maintain balance in their emotional well-being
- Should manage Stress reduction
- Sleep at least 8-10 hours.
- Regular physical activities help both mind and body. Breathing exercises and yoga can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and heart diseases.
- Most importantly, don’t dump over knowledge into the brain. Take what is necessary. Over knowledge can also lead you to lose your physiological balance.
Emotionally
- Being Physiologically can improve the mental status.
- Also taking necessary precautions will stop the situation from getting worse.
Let’s have a look at some physical symptoms associated with COVID-19:
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease control and Prevention) people may start to experience symptoms 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. And the symptoms may include:
- Cough
- Fever
- Difficulty in breathing i.e., Trouble or shortness of breathing
- Headache
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Loss of Taste or smell
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Chills
- Diarrhea
Till now, there is no clinically approved vaccine against COVID 19, so don’t neglect and take all necessary precautions, at the same time don’t panic. If you have any sort of symptoms mentioned above don’t hesitate to approach health care professionals, and isolate yourself. Thereby protect yourself, your family and society from the current pandemic
When to admit in Hospital
- Continuous high fever for more than 5-7 days.
- Shortness in Breath i.e., Breathlessness
- Reduced oxygen saturation
- Confusion
- Continuous chest pain.
What is the right time for getting tested with covid-19
People exposed to the virus who have a close contact with the confirmed case should get tested if they have or don’t have symptoms. By early identifying the individuals who are positive in disease before they develop symptoms, there is a chance to prevent a large percentage of infections.
The virus incubation period is 5-7 days, but it can be upto 14 days. And one should be aware of False positive and False negative results.
False Positive
Sometimes, the COVID-19 test might cross react with other related viruses. So, this can be both the design tissue or lack of pre-release testing. Sometimes one test can be a combination of multiple tests.
False Negative
If you get tested too early after the exposure, there may not be enough virus in the nose or throat detected. So, there exists a false negative result.
Types of tests for COVID-19
Antigen Test – RT PCR for COVID-19
RT PCR (The Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) Test is commonly used for COVID-19. It is a test that starts with a simple swa taken from a person’s throat or nose. And the time for testing is at the end of the 1st week after getting infected with COVID-19.
Antibody test
Antibody test tells if you had any past infections. This test may take 1-3 weeks after infection to develop antibodies after symptoms start. As a result, Antibody symptoms are not supportive for those within 8 days of symptoms. Additionally you may get false positives for antibodies from the test, especially when you have no symptoms for COVID-19.
CT (HRCT) Chest
Coronavirus ailment 2019 (COVID-19) Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) gave a normalized evaluation conspire that rearranged detailing with a five-point size of doubt for aspiratory inclusion of COVID-19 at chest CT.
- CO-RADS had moderate to generous understanding among eyewitnesses, with a general Fleiss κ estimation of 0.47 (95% certainty stretch)
- The prejudicial intensity of CO-RADS in the analysis of COVID-19 was high, with a mean region under the beneficiary working trademark bend of 0.91 for positive opposite record polymerase chain response results.
Tools to fight COVID-19 in house
- Medications for fever and throat pain are paracetamol and Aczithromycin.
- Digital Thermometer – This is the most accurate and fastest way to check the temperature.
- Water Vapourizer – Steam inhalation may help your dry nose and throat. It also makes it easier for you to breath. So, if you have cold or throat pain, this way of inhaling steam gives you better results.
- Pulse Oximeter – It is a small device used to monitor the amount of oxygen carried in the body. Hence, it also checks how well your heart is pumping oxygen through your body. A normal blood oxygen level is typically between 95-99 percent. And blood level below 95 percent is considered to be low. As a result, low oxygen level causes chest pain, shortness of breath, and headache. And the oxygen saturation less than 90 percent should be mandatorily hospitalised.
Financial management for COVID-19 treatment
According to the recent news, the Government ordered 50% of the beds to the government from private hospitals like Andhra, Ayush, Ramesh., Etc are giving covid care along with government hospitals. Further it has ordered all government and private hospitals to set up 10 beds depending on the overall bed capacity of the particular hospital.
- Health insurance plans- Health insurance for COVID-19 will be highly beneficial. It will provide cover against expenses that you may incur for the required treatment. There involves a numerous hospitalization expenses in getting treatment in case you suffer from COVID-19.
- Aarogyasri – The state government included the treatment for COVID-19 under Arogyasri scheme. According to the news, the government will provide 10,000/- if the person is treated with symptoms of COVID. And 20,000/- if treated for a positive case.