Covid - 19

What is a virus:

Virus is in grey area between living and non living. It does not multiple itself but it does multiply in host cells and produces changes in host.

Covid 19 has iofferent types of proteins and has an outer layer of lipids. It stays longer on surfaces and is hard to destroy because of this outer layer. Furin enzyme in humans helps him attach to ACE2 receptor.

Corona virus is called corona because one type of proteins sticks out like spikes of crowns.

Origin: by proximity with exotic animals or their consumption

Spread: Airborn, droplets, contaminated surfaces. Covid -19 is very contagious. It spreads fast. That is why cases and deaths are increasing exponentially.

Who is prone to be infected? Anyone and anywhere more likely elderly, people with compromised immunity, people with multiple medical problems, people in crowded places, people with blood group A

Symptoms and signs:

Loss of taste and/or smell(anosmia)

Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath

Sore throat

Body ache, Fatigue

Diarrhea

Q. Waht are the lingering effects of Covid-19?
A. Fatighue, headache, insomnia, eye and hearing changes, brain fog, hallucinations, joint pain, palpitations, syncope, loss of smell and taste, vasculitis, vomiting, colitis, cramp, etc.

Organs and Systems affected:

Respiratory-Hypoxia, pulmonary edema, ARDS

Gastro intestinal--Diarrhea

Cardiac--myocarditis, stunned myocardium, Heart Failure

Testing

Nasal or throat swabs-Quicker results
Extracting RNA and running polymerase chain reaction-Takes hrs.

Prevention:

Maintain social distance, no handshakes, no hugging, no open coughing, and no overcrowding, do not touch things unnecessarily

Wash hand frequently, Wash hands before eating

Maintain good hygiene, Take a shower daily, change clothes daily, Keep surroundings clean, Wash hands and clean area after dealing with parcels, packages, mail, packets, etc.

Do not touch the face with dirty hands

Wash hands, feet, face before entering home

Try to use natural products for cleaning to prevent the development of resistant organisms

Make sure there is good ventilation at home and workplace

Eat healthily, take adequate rest and sleep

Maintain good immunity

Vaccine

Washing hands properly with soap and water is better than sanitizing hand. Washing with soap, degrades the viral structurally and it goes away from hand by washing.

Q. What are some safe air travel tips?

. Travel only if necessary.
Wear N95 mak.
Wear face shield.
Avoid touching things.
Wear gloves.
Eat only when necessay.
Use straw to take liquids.
Avoid going to bathrooms.
Avoid long lines.
Bussiness or first class travel if possible.
First row seating.

Treatment

Trial drugs—Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, ibuprofen

Antivirals-Remdesivir, Ritonavir/Lopinavir

Interferon beta

Plasma from patients who recovered

Maintain body warmth and hydration

humidified air/oxygen

Ventilation, nebulizer

Vasopressors

Inotrops

Diuretics

Invasive monitoring

People are saying Vitamin C, Mineral oils, Sesame oil, Vitamin D, Garlic, Steam inhalation, Salt water gargles, Increasing ambient temperature etc.

These are recommendations by people, not from WHO or CDC.

Hot steam may provide symptomatic relief in many respiratory illnesses but it does not kill virus.

It may have side effects also e.g. respiratory burns, decreases effect of some medicines e.g. antibiotics, tranquilizers etc. It can lead to dehydration also.

Drinking lot of water may be harmful for patients with heart failure, kidney dysfunction, water retention etc.

Human body temperature is 37.2C/98.6 F, increasing ambient temperature will not increase normal body temperature.

Mortality from Covid 19 is less than 2% on average, means 98% people recover, even without these treatments.

Usually respiratory diseases are seen more in winter months. There are exceptions. Swine flu spread in summer. Pandemics do not follow the same spread pattern,seasonally, as seasonal diseases.

Strategies:

Healthcare workers use protective gear while taking care of suspected and confirmed patients.

Increase the supply of protective gear for health care workers. Caps, gowns, gloves, masks, personal protective equipment.

Provide training to healthcare workers to deal with these cases

Provide training to wear personal protective gear.

Regularly schedule healthcare workers for fit test.

Increase the supply of safety gear. Involve the private sector.

Some geniuses came up with new ideas like prinking masks, printing plastic gowns, Ventilate nine patients with one ventilator.

Big corporates and manufacturers may use their place, workers, pieces of equipment to maintain a constant supply of items.

Recruit retired healthcare workers and workers who left medicine to do other jobs/work.

Use anesthesia ventilators for ICU

Use existing surgi centers. They already have staff, equipment, rooms, parking, supplies, etc.

Educate the public.

Open more testing sites and test more people. New tests can be done by patients themselves e.g. nasal swabs.

Get hold of hoarders.

Decrease or prevent anxiety and stress by praying, meditation, maintain communication via online sites and while maintaining distance, read or listen to positive stories, quotes, thoughts.

Help others as much as feasible.

Build a community network

Vaccination

New strain of Covid 19 virus: