Covid-19

India has more than 320 Lac covid positive patients by 10th of August 2021 with more than 4 lac casualties. Some people estimate that the actual number of positive patients and deaths in India could be 4-5 times of this official figure. The second wave of Coronavirus in the months of April and May 2021 saw mad rush for hospital beds, oxygen, Remdesivir and Chest CT Scan. Patients had to run to other cities in order to get admitted. Lots of nursing homes had stopped taking patients due to lack of oxygen and also due to lack of medical manpower. The root of the problem was that many nursing homes run without the facility of a full time physician. During corona times only the Pulmonologists, Critical Care Specialists and the physicians were in demand. Most of the other doctors were sitting idle at home or had quarantined themselves. Senior citizens having co-morbidities like Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer, Kidney Disease, Heart Disease etc are highly vulnerable to this disease. Even though most of the patients recover from the disease within 14-28 days, some need to be hospitalized due to the falling oxygen saturation levels. Such patients need to be given oxygen support and ventilator support. Despite the best efforts atleast 2-5% patients have succumbed to the disease. Since the disease primarily affects the lungs and the patients have to be managed either on oxygen support or ventilator, pulmonologists are best suited for taking good care of the patients. The third wave of Corona Virus led by Omicron variant has started declining and this time it has not been that severe, thanks to the vaccination. It is therefore extremely important to wear face mask, avoid crowded places, maintain hand hygiene and get vaccinated at the earliest if not till now.

Post Covid Problems

Some people experience a range of new or ongoing symptoms that can last weeks or months after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Unlike some of the other types of post-COVID conditions that tend only to occur in people who have had severe illness, these symptoms can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even if the illness was mild, or if they had no initial symptoms.

Some people who had severe illness with COVID-19 experience multiorgan effects over a longer time with symptoms lasting weeks or months after COVID-19 illness. Multiorgan effects can affect many, if not all, body systems, including heart, lung, kidney, skin, and brain functions. Hospitalizations and severe illnesses for lung-related diseases, including COVID-19, can cause health effects like severe weakness and exhaustion during the recovery period.

Elderly old age group people and people having serious medical conditions such as diabetes, immunodeficiency disorders, cancers or chronic diseases are at the risk of developing post COVID complications. Some common signs and symptoms of post covid complications observed after recovery that include:

Body or Joint Pains

High Blood Sugar

Fatigue

Shortness of Breath

Dry Cough and Chest Pain

Fast Heart Beat

Insomnia

Best Doctors and Cost

Dr Gilla is one of the most well trained physician for the treatment of Covid and Post Covid patients at Shakti Hospital, Bhawanipur India. The treatment of Covid starts with precaution in the form of mask, social distancing and vaccination. With proper care and post vaccination it is seen that the patients had milder covid symptoms. However patients with co-morbidity need to be careful and should not ignore symptoms like, weakness, breathlesness, fatigue as they may be post covid problems which we call "Long Covid". These symptoms need to be addressed and taken care of by a qualified pulmonologist and lung specialist.