Page 7 - Seniors Today - June 2021 Issue
P. 7
Better geared beds in the large private hospitals.
The experience of the first wave had taught
us doctors several lessons, and we were
better geared to manage the patients in
the second wave. The number of patients
treated at home vastly outnumbered
number of patients treated in healthcare
facilities. In the first wave a majority of
the patients were treated in healthcare
facilities due to Fear of the infection and
unknown. The first lockdown had given us
ample opportunity to enhance our hospital
infrastructure and capacities to produce
PPE’s and masks of adequate quality.
Manifestation of the Covid infection differs
between people. Each individual is affected Testing hesitancy
differently. Most people are asymptomatic There was hesitancy to test for the fear of
or have very mild symptoms. Several the unknown and the government forcing
people only realise that they have the one to quarantine in the government run
infection when they test themselves either COVID Care centers. Images flashed in
because they were in contact with someone media portrait work conditions in the
with the disease or for a variety of reasons quarantine centers and hospitals which
such as rejoining work or as a part of travel add it to the general distrust in government
requirements. About 15% of the people institutional care. Image after image was
infected have more profound symptoms flashed on television screens and over
such as breathlessness and dropping instant messaging services showing poor
oxygen levels. Fever is an extremely quality of facilities or of dying people.
important symptom of Covid. This led to the general hysteria and fear of
Everyone should isolate themselves at hospitalization. There was no word of calm
the onset of the first fever because it is or a reassurance from our leaders. They
then that they start becoming infective added to more confusion by very frequently
to others. Hence no fever should ever be changing rules and regulations along
ignored. Fever is a very important tool with hesitancy to take quick, effective and
for doctors to prognosticate the course of forceful policy making decisions.
illness. Research shows that persons with Late intervention also meant greater
prolonged fever have a more severe course need for pharmaceutical therapy which
of illness. Patients who ignored their first is expensive and due to a supply demand
symptom of fever and would eventually mismatch led to several drugs being
have moderate to severe disease found repurposed for treatment. Lack of strong
themselves seeking medical help too late legislation against selling of drugs
when the effective anti-viral drugs Would especially antibiotics over the counter led
serve no purpose. Which worsening to people self-medicating. Armed with
symptoms patients would chase the elusive a poor general medical knowledge We
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #24 | JUNE 2021 7
