Isolate if symptoms persist despite testing –ve for Covid: Cardiologist

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 1

The second wave of Covid-19 has brought new symptoms along with it. This has led to a few cases going undetected in the test. Under such circumstances, residents need to be more careful of the symptoms they are experiencing and get a retest done in case of any doubt.

Since both state and Union governments are also insisting on home isolation of patients, it becomes more imperative that people stay alert about their symptoms and get admitted to a hospital only in emergency cases.

“If a patient has all symptoms of Covid but his/her report comes negative, even then he/she should immediately go in isolation. He/she can again get tested after two-three days if the symptoms persist. One can get the test repeated even thrice as RT-PCR test is considered standard in diagnosis of Covid-19,” said Dr Bishav Mohan, senior cardiologist at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, who is also member of the Covid-19 task force formed by the state government.

Dr Mohan said: “People going for CT scans without the recommendation of doctors is not a healthy thing to do as RT-PCR is the standard procedure for detecting Covid in the body. A CT scan is done only in serious cases.”

“Patients with mild fever and upper respiratory tract infection are suggested to go for home isolation so that the healthcare system is not exhausted amidst the spike in Covid cases,” he added.

According to the guidelines of the state government, the patients in home-isolation should adopt contact and droplet precautions and follow strict hand hygiene.

“Patients need to have adequate nutrition and hydration, paracetamol, anti-tussives and Vitamin C. Patients with comorbidities should inhale budesonide (MDI/DPI) 800 mcg twice daily for up to 14 days and rinse mouth after use. Pulse oximeter monitoring with one-minute sit up/sit down test should be done twice daily (fall in saturation < 95%),” said Dr Bishav Mohan.

Patients with high risk factors should admit to COVID Care Centre (CCC).