 |
| With no drug or a vaccine to treat coronavirus disease, patients are managed using supportive care. |
As of today, there is no any drug to treat coronavirus disease or a vaccine to prevent it. Under these circumstances, aim of treatment is to reduce the symptoms until there is recovery. This is done by supportive care. In supportive care, you maintain the function of body's vital organs, so that the body is able to ward off the progression of the disease and resolve it.
Patients with COVID-19 can be classified as asymptomatic, mild, moderate and severe. Asymptomatic and mild cases don't need hospitalization and can be managed at home. Patients with severe disease need hospitalization.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ASYMPTOMATIC AND MILD CASES
1. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
2. Take rest and avoid strenous exercises.
3. If you have a cough, don't lie on your back. Instead, lie on your side or sit upright.
4. You may take honey to ease your cough.
OXYGEN THERAPY
The coronavirus disease primarily affects the lungs. As a result, oxygen from environment is not able to reach the blood effectively. To remedy this, oxygen therapy is given so that required level of oxygen is maintained for progressive recovery.
CONTINUOUS POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE (CPAP)
When oxygen therapy is not sufficient to maintain the required oxygen level in blood, then oxygen under pressure is given. This is known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
This is given via a mask connected to a machine whose amount and pressure can controlled.
MECHANICAL VENTILATION
When the disease becomes further severe, the person is not able to breathe effectively. In such a case, a machine is used which does the breathing for the patient. A tube from the machine is inserted into the patient's windpipe through which oxygen is delivered.
STEROIDS
Doctors from Oxford University have stated that using the steroid dexamethasone in patients under ventilation, significantly improved outcomes in upto one-third cases. But, they have not found to be effective in eradicating the virus in infected cases.
PLASMA THERAPY
It is based on the idea that patients who have recovered from COVID-19 are likely to have antibodies that can fight against the coronavirus. In this method, recovered patient's plasma is extracted and given to infected ones who are under treatment.
Patients receiving treatment for COVID-19 are usually made to lie on their stomach. When a patient lies on his stomach, it gives more room for the lungs to expand. This allows adequate intake of oxygen by the lungs and adequate supply in the blood.
0 Comments