Covid-19/ Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) / Camel Flu - Medtick
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Covid-19/ Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) / Camel Flu

What is it?

A severe and fatal viral condition that affects the lungs and respiratory system.

Covid-19 / Sars-CoV-2 (2019 – to date)

  • The virus can be with you from 5-14 days before symptoms are known (hence it can be spread to others in that time) and can lead to an outbreak and cause breathing problems to the paint where one can not get enough oxygen in their body.
  • During this time the virus invades the cell lining in ones throat, airways and lungs and turns them into “coronavirus factories” that spew out huge numbers of new viruses that go on to infect yet more cells.

MERS/SARS  (2003 and 2012 respectively)

  • It takes 2-7 days to develop, occurs in outbreaks  and can cause pneumonia.
  • During this time the virus invades the cell lining in ones throat, airways and lungs and turns them into “coronavirus factories” that spew out huge numbers of new viruses that go on to infect yet more cells.

Why do we get these symptoms:

  • Fever, body aches, pain and fever and generally feeling grotty – Result of your immune system responding to the infection. It has recognised the virus as a hostile invader and signals to the rest of the body something is wrong by releasing chemicals called cytokines.
  • Dry cough (you’re not bringing stuff up) – probably down to irritation of cells as they become infected by the virus.
  • Coughing up sputum – a thick mucus containing dead lung cells killed by the virus.

Why is this happening?

  • Our body (immune system) overreacts to anything harmful (see causes below) and this causes an increase of inflammation in our body, if this inflammation occurs in the lungs , it is called pneumonia.
  • If the immune system reacts even further , it may affect the rest of the body and this can lead to septic shock where ones blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels and organs stop working properly or fail completely.

Diagnosis Tests

Oxygen Saturation test (via Oxygen level meter)

  • Oxygen saturation (SpO2) is an important diagnostic tool for COVID-19 pneumonia, and measures the amount of haemoglobin-bound oxygen and free oxygen.
  • The partial pressure of arterial O2 (PaO2) is measured by arterial blood gas monitoring. In healthy individuals, SpO2 is usually >95%.
  • In patients with chronic lung disease or sleep apnoea, SpO2 can range between 88–92%.

McNicholas W, Kent, Mitchell. Hypoxemia in patients with COPD: cause, effects, and disease progression. COPD 2011;:199. doi:10.2147/copd.s10611

  • In SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients have low SpO2 levels.
  • A phenomenon known as ‘silent hypoxia’ is reported, where patients present with minimal symptoms yet have significantly reduced pulse oximetry readings below 91%, particularly in the short term.

Attaway AH, Scheraga RG, Bhimraj A, et al. Severe covid-19 pneumonia: pathogenesis and clinical management. BMJ 2021;:n436. doi:10.1136/bmj.n436

Chandra A, Chakraborty U, Pal J, et al. Silent hypoxia: a frequently overlooked clinical entity in patients with COVID-19. BMJ Case Rep 2020;13:e237207. doi:10.1136/bcr-2020-237207

Do not take Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs without Medical Doctor/specialist supervision, Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs is not recommended in asthma or asthma type symptoms. Check with your Medical doctor/Pharmacist when one can have any type of fever reducing medication to make sure it suitable for you.

Cause

  • Virus: Coronavirus
  • Spread via personal contact.
  • Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs small droplets – packed with the virus  in the air. These can be breathed in, or cause an infection if you touch a surface they have landed on, then your eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms

Sudden and severe symptoms:

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Lack of energy?
  • Loss of smell and/or taste?
  • Nausea and vomiting?
  • Diarrhoea and/or cannot keep liquid down more than a day?

One to five days later:

  • Persistent dry cough (more than one hour) and or worsening dry cough and/or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours?

Seven days later:

  • Breathing difficulties?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

Contact your Medical Doctor if develop symptoms and have a weakened immune system
  • People at higher risk include those who are over 70, regardless of whether they have a medical condition or not, and people under 70 with any of the following underlying health conditions:

Asthmatics:

  • Asthma UK’s advice is to keep taking your preventer inhaler [usually brown and/or purple (some come in a range of colours – ask your pharmacist to tell you which is your preventer inhaler)] daily as prescribed. This will help cut your risk of an asthma attack being triggered by any respiratory virus, including coronavirus.
  • Carry your blue reliever inhaler with you every day, in case you feel your asthma symptoms flaring up. If your asthma is getting worse and there is a risk you might have coronavirus contact your Medical doctor.

BBC

What to do if one has pneumonia?

  • Sleep on your stomach at all time, then get out of bed, move your arms frequently around and walk for 15- 30 minutes every two hours (set an alarm clock), no matter how tired and weak one is, this promotes blood circulation and reduce pressure in ones lungs.
  • During the day, sit up straight and do not recline back when sitting , again walk and move around every half an hour.
  • Breath in through your nose and out from your mouth to build up your lungs and help to remove fluid from the lungs
  • Eat potassium rich foods i.e. eggs, banana’s, avocado’s, asparagus, vegetables, to keep energy levels up , peanut butter (has high protein and magnesium) and vitamin C products i.e. blueberries, oranges, smoothies and plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
  • Foods and supplements containing vitamin B, vitamin D, and Zinc will also help as they help to boot one’s energy levels and help with the immune system.
  • Do not drink anything cold , have it warm , honey (boost immune system and lemon (vitamin c) may help with the cough.
  • Peppermint tea (help with stomach cramps) and apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties may help.
  • Cut down on red and/or fatty meats.
  • Consider products like onions, ginger, garlic, herbs and vegetables (maybe have warm soups and broths), these products have a range of antiseptic, circulation promoting , antioxidants, vitamin and mineral and anti-bacterial properties and anti-fungal properties.
  • Have probiotic yogurts, drinks and supplements to replace the good bacteria in your gut.
  • If one has fever, paracetamol may help (speak to your pharmacist) to make sure it does not interact with existing medical conditions and/or medication one may currently have and/or using (particularly if one takes existing pain relief and cold and flu products).
  • If one is bed bound, talk to your medical doctor on whether one can have aspirin 75mg tablets to prevent blood clots.

Social Distancing

  • Everyone is being told to follow social-distancing measures to help reduce the chance of catching and spreading coronavirus. People in higher risk groups are strongly advised to follow the advice.

Isolate and Prevention

  • Everyone – regardless of age – should now be stopping non-essential contact with others to help stop the spread of the virus and protect the most vulnerable.
  • Avoid gatherings with friends and family as well as crowded places.
  • Social distancing guide
  • Self isolation guide
  • Persons over 70 of age and those with underlying health conditions because they are at higher risk of developing more severe symptoms if they become infected.
  • Persons at the highest risk of complications are being asked to isolate at home for 12 weeks to protect themselves (contact your Medical Doctor to check if you are at high risk).
  • Coughing and sneezing into tissues and then bin it, if you have no tissue then in the crook (inside)  of your elbow.
  • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with infected people (2 meter distance)
  • Do not share towels and utensils, dishes , drinking glasses
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • How to wash Hands

Oxygen Ventilator

For this condition an oxygen ventilator maybe used to provide more oxygen to ones lungs.

Complications include:

  • Pulmonary embolism– blood clots can form (in the vessels of your  arms and/or legs) especially when on a ventilator and one is doing no form of exercise. The blood clot can break off and travel to the lungs.
  • Collapsed lung (pneumothorax)-A breathing machine called a ventilator is used to increase oxygen in the body and force fluid out of the lungs. however, the pressure and air volume of the ventilator can force gas to go through a small hole in the very outside of a lung and cause that lung to collapse.
  • Infections –Because the ventilator is attached directly to a tube inserted in your windpipe, this makes it much easier for germs to infect and further injure your lungs.

MayoClinic

Short term and Long term effects

Long term effects are currently being researched however many patients have reported the following short- term symptoms (post-Covid symptoms) lasting weeks to months after the acute illness:

  • Fatigue
  • Cognitive dysfunction- deficits in attention, verbal and nonverbal learning, short-term and working memory, visual and auditory processing, problem solving, processing speed, and motor functioning. anxiety, depression, insomnia and brain fog)
  • Hair-loss
  • Dyspnoea (breathing difficulties/shortness of breath)
  • Cough
  • Increased phlegm production
  • Joint pain
  • Chest pain
  • Rash
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Urticaria Vasculitis

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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