Clinical management of COVID 19.

Its symptoms,
diagnosis and treatment
Coronavirus is a large family of virus and covid-19 is just a part of it.

Coronaviruses (Co V) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to
more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-Co V) and Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-Co V). Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an emerging viral
respiratory disease caused by the MERS coronavirus, also called MERS-Co V, that was first
identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus is a
species of coronavirus that infects humans, bats and certain other mammals. It is an enveloped
positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that enters its host cell by binding to the angiotensin-
converting enzyme 2 receptor.

Novel Corona Virus 2019 - A novel coronavirus (n Co V) (OVID-19) is a new strain that has not been
previously identified in humans is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered
coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China,
in December 2019. COVID-19 is now a pandemic affecting many countries globally. As it is a virus, it
is more harmful than bacterial diseases like bubonic plague.

Management – coordination and administration of tasks to achieve a goal

Management of mild COVID-19: symptomatic treatment - Patients with mild disease may present to
an isolation unit, primary care/outpatient department and can go and receive medical help as fast as
possible

Management of moderate COVID-19: We recommend that patients with suspected or confirmed

moderate COVID-19 (pneumonia) be isolated to contain virus transmission. Patients with moderate
illness may not require emergency interventions or hospitalization; however, isolation is necessary
for all suspect or confirmed cases.

Management of severe COVID-19: severe pneumonia treatment

All areas where severe patients may be cared for should be equipped with pulse oximeters,
functioning oxygen systems and disposable, single-use, oxygen-delivering interfaces (nasal cannula,
Venturi mask, and mask with reservoir bag).

Management of dead COVID-19 patients: disposal

The health worker attending to the dead body should perform hand hygiene, ensure proper use of
PPE (water resistant apron, goggles, N95 mask, gloves). All tubes, drains and catheters on the dead
body should be removed. Plug Oral, nasal orifices of the dead body to prevent leakage of body fluids.
As told by government, they should be burned at places very safe

Symptoms – a change in body that indicates illness

1.Most common symptoms: Fever, dry cough & tiredness.

2.Less common symptoms: aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of
taste or smell, a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes.
3.Serious symptoms: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, loss of
speech or movement Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call
before visiting your doctor or health facility. People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy
should manage their symptoms at home.
5.On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show,
however it can take up to 14 days. If you have any of the symptoms, you must go and seek advice
from doctors.

Although these are symptoms of novel corona virus, many cases now are A-Symptomatic which
means they have no symptoms of Covid – 19 so, if we think that we are infected with Covid – 19 we
should immediately seek medical help.

Diagnosis -Confirming of Illness in someone; We recommend, for all suspect cases, collection of
upper respiratory tract (URT) specimens (nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal) for testing by reverse
transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and, where clinical suspicion remains and URT
specimens are negative, to collect specimens from the lower respiratory tract (LRT) when readily
available (expectorated sputum, or endotracheal aspirate/bronchoalveolar lavage in ventilated
patient). In addition, testing for other respiratory viruses and bacteria should be considered when
clinically indicated.
SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests are not recommended for diagnosis of current infection with COVID-19.
Depending on local epidemiology and clinical symptoms, test for other potential aetiologies (e.g.
malaria, dengue fever, typhoid fever) as appropriate. For COVID-19 patients with severe or critical
disease, also collect blood cultures, ideally prior to initiation of antimicrobial therapy.

Treatment – Use of medicine or medical care to treat someone with disease or injury.
We should follow – self quarantine, self-isolation and distancing and know their differences -
Quarantine means restricting activities or separating people who are not ill. Isolation means
separating people who are ill with symptoms of COVID-19. Physical distancing means being
physically apart.
While some western, traditional or home remedies may provide comfort and alleviate symptoms of
mild COVID-19, there are no medicines that have been shown to prevent or cure the disease. WHO
does not recommend self-medication with any medicines, including antibiotics, as a prevention or
cure for COVID-19. The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to:

 Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly

 Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose
 Cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue. If a tissue is used, discard it immediately
and wash your hands.
 Maintain a distance of at least 2 yards from others.
 We should wear masks especially medical masks like N90 and N95 if possible.
 Studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can survive for up to 72 hours on
plastic and stainless steel, less than 4 hours on copper and less than 24 hours on
cardboard.
 Always keep a hand sanitizer while out with you.
 Install Arogya Setu app in your mobile phones and follow all the precautions told by it
to prevent meetings with COVID-19 patients, check your health, know different zones
in your area that are Containment zones, Buffer zones that are part of red zones;
orange zones and green zones. Also know that if hoy had come in contact with A-
Symptomatic or any COVID-19 patients, go and seek medical help and test
ourselves for COVID-19.
Spread of disease - The disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from
the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
These droplets are relatively heavy, do not travel far and quickly sink to the ground. These droplets
can land on objects and surfaces around the person such as tables, doorknobs and handrails. People
can become infected by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
This is why it is important to wash your hands regularly with soap and water or clean with alcohol-
based hand rub.

In nutshell, can we say that “Follow the guidelines, do the management, protect and help Corona
Warriors as they are helping us, as this Corona Virus has no vaccine till yet, we shouldn’t panic and
stay in our homes. So, lets now win our war against COVID-19, protect ourselves and kin from it, and
defeat it as better said “Prevention is better than cure!” and not wait till its vaccine comes as the
hard work bears fruit as now in India, the curved patients are increasing and has surpassed active
cases.”
country Total cases recovered active
India 3,09,603 1,54,231 1,46,482
world 77,32,485 39,25,354 33,78,895