Dos and don'ts while going into home isolation and taking care of Covid

As the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic is raging on and the medical world is grappling with more variants of the mutated virus, hospitals across the country are overloaded and health workers overburdened. While medical experts are having a trying time saving the lives of patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms, what they are vehemently and constantly exhorting is home isolation for asymptomatic persons or patients with mild symptoms. However, those under home isolation need to be careful too while following the treatment regimen. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued guidelines for Covid care before and after going into home isolation.

Suspecting COVID-19

The ICMR says that one should suspect COVID-19 if there is

» fever

» Cough

» Headache

» Sore throat

» Breathlessness

» Feeling of dizziness

» Body ache

» Recent loss of smell

» Recent loss of taste

It asks asymptomatic family members exposed to symptomatic cases to monitor their health and get tested.

If someone doubts his or her health, get tested for COVID-19, consult a doctor for admission in a hospital if oxygen saturation is equal to or below 93% and get the blood tests done as per the doctor's advice, ICMR recommends.

Dos and don't during home isolation

Dos

» Stay home

» Sanitise hands

» Isolate oneself and take rest

» All family members should wear a mask

» Ensure ventilation and keep windows open

» Monitor body temperature every four hours

» Measure Oxygen saturation using Oximeter every four hours

Don'ts

» Do not use remdesivir while under home isolation

» Do not use nebulizer for budesonide

» Do not use oxygen cylinder without the advice of a medical practitioner

Treatment during home quarantine

» Drink water, soup, juice, coconut water, etc.

» Lie on your chest and breathe deeply to improve oxygenation

» Take paracetamol at 6 hours' interval & cough syrup if necessary

» Consume food with multivitamins & minerals

» Take steam inhalation and/or warm water gargle thrice a day

Those under home quarantine can get the following treatments, but only with the help of a doctor's advice.

» Budesonide via Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI)/Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) – only if symptoms persist beyond 5 days.

» Take Ivermectin/Hydroxychloroquine

» Take low dose steroid if symptoms persist beyond 7 days (again, only with a doctor's advice)

» Take antibiotics as deemed appropriate

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