A lot has been discussed about the recent outbreak of Coronavirus. Since there is a lot of misinformation and rumours doing the rounds, it’s easy to get confused. In this blog, we aim to clear all the myths and present you with accurate information.
So let’s start by knowing more about the virus first.
What is Coronavirus?
Coronavirus is a larger family of viruses that cause illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). A new outbreak of the coronavirus erupted in 2019 in China.
Some other names attributed to the coronavirus are severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Coronavirus affects both animals and humans. There can be cases where the virus affects animals and turns into a new virus that affects humans. These are more lethal forms of coronavirus since they can lead to pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.
The three most common illnesses by the virus recorded are:
- SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) – It’s a fatal respiratory illness discovered in China in 2002. There haven’t been any new cases reported under this virus since 2002.
- MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) – This severe respiratory illness was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. From there, it spread to 27 countries including the USA, where two cases were reported. All cases were discovered to have their source in the Arabian Peninsula.
- COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) – Erupting in Wuhan city in 2019, the source is travel from the Hubei Province. Since then, the disease has spread to several countries around the world, with some cases reported in the USA. All updates with regards to the disease are being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?
The symptoms of coronavirus arise when you’ve traveled to the areas of the outbreak of the virus or have been in contact with anyone traveling from those areas.
The symptoms of coronavirus infections in general are:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Headache
The specific symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
The symptoms of COVID-19 are milder than the ones of SARS and MERS. In case you haven’t traveled to these areas or had contact with anyone from these areas, then the symptoms may just be of another virus like the flu.
Patient screening and triage:
Patients who present with fever and respiratory symptoms with an epidemiological link to COVID-19 should carry a high index of suspicion for the disease. The epidemiological link may involve (a) travel to an area that experienced an outbreak, (b) close contact with an individual with a confirmed or high risk of infection, or (c) close contact with an individual with respiratory symptoms who had been in a geographic location that witnessed an outbreak within a 14-day period prior to the onset of symptoms. As the geographic area of involvement is expanding, clinicians need to keep themselves updated on the list of affected countries and territories. Following several generations of spread with a country, local transmission of disease occurs, and patients may present with no history of travel to a location with a known outbreak.
Critically ill patients may present to the emergency department from the community or by inter-hospital transfer to the intensive care unit. In such instances, a detailed inquiry should be carried out to ensure appropriate screening and infection control precautions should be followed.
How to get tested for Coronavirus?
In case you feel your symptoms are specific to the coronavirus, your healthcare provider can get in touch with CDC or the local healthcare departments for testing instructions. There are specific labs set up for conducting coronavirus tests, so you may be directed to one of these labs.
There are different types of coronavirus tests that can be done:
- Swab Test – In this case, a special swab is used to take a sample from your nose or throat
- Nasal aspirate – In this case, a saline solution will be injected into your nose and, then a sample is taken with a light suction
- Tracheal aspirate – In this case, a thin tube with a torch, also known as a bronchoscope, is put into your mouth to reach your lungs from where a sample is collected.
- Sputum Test – Sputum is thick mucus that gets accumulated in the lungs and comes out with a cough. During this test, you’re required to cough up sputum in a special cup or a swab is used to take a sample from your nose.
- Blood test – In this case, a blood sample is taken from a vein in the arm.
A rapid test has also been started for the COVID-19, which involves taking samples from the nose, throat, and lungs. This ensures a speedy, and accurate diagnosis and is used in all CDC-approved.
Before the test, the concerned health professionals may request you to wear a mask during the test. In case there are any other steps that need to be taken, the healthcare professional can communicate that to you.
What are the risks associated while testing for Coronavirus?
During the test, you may feel a gagging sensation when the swab will be inserted in your nose and throat. The nasal aspirate may especially seem a bit uncomfortable. However, all of these effects are temporary and will go away shortly after the test. In some cases of tracheal aspirate, there may be bleeding or infection. In the case of the blood test, no risks are observed. There may be a slight swell and pain in the area where the needle was inserted, however it goes away pretty soon.
What next if the Coronavirus test comes positive?
In case your test results come out positive, then you may be affected by the coronavirus. Although there are no specific treatments for the coronavirus infection, however, the healthcare professional may suggest some steps that’ll help you to relieve the symptoms.
Some of the steps you can follow to ease the symptoms are:
- Drinking a lot of fluids
- Getting plenty of rest
- Taking over-the-counter medicines
In case your condition gets worse or you show signs of pneumonia, you should get admitted to a hospital. Some of the common symptoms of pneumonia are severe cough, laboured breathing, and high fever.
If you’re diagnosed with coronavirus, you should follow the below steps to prevent any spread of infection:
- Don’t leave home unless to get medical help
- Always wear a face mask in public places or when you’re around other people
- Don’t share any personal items such as drinking cups, eating plates, towels, or any other items with anybody.
- Always wash your hand thoroughly for around 20 seconds. In case soap water is not available, you can use an alcohol-based sanitiser, which at least contains 60% alcohol.
In case your results turned negative, you can check with the healthcare professional whether any further tests are required. It’s better to take precautions to not prevent the infection any further.
On the other hand, you can avoid getting infected by coronavirus by following the below steps:
- Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds and use alcohol-based sanitizers in absence of soap-water
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth a lot
- If possible, avoid being close to people who are sneezing or coughing
- Clean the household items which are frequently handled with a disinfectant spray
Dr. Harish MM, Consultant Anaesthesia & Critical Care, Mazumdar Shaw Medical Center, Bommasandra, Bangalore
