Today we all are frightened daily by the rising death toll rate of coronavirus in china. Instead of decease in no. of death, it’s increasing. Many other 16 countries also come under the attack of coronavirus. India is one of them. 1 case is already confirmed by govt. having a positive lab test. Now we are waiting to see the fate of this dangerous threat to the human being.
History
In December 2019, WHO was informed about several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan City, of China. The virus was new than any other known virus.
One week later authorities confirmed that they had identified a new virus. The new virus is a coronavirus. It belongs to a family of viruses that include the common cold.
As this is a coronavirus, which usually causes respiratory illness, People advice on how to protect themselves and those around them from getting the disease.
Symptoms
Coronaviruses ( which are known to us) usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. These illnesses usually last for a few days.
This new virus also develops a sign and symptoms like known coronavirus but the severity will differ.
The common symptoms are
Runny nose
Headache
Cough
Sore throat
Fever
Not feeling well
These may be the symptoms.
But sometime it may develop fatal pneumonia-like symptoms,
which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath which often progress to pneumonia.
Transmission
Coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through,
The air by coughing and sneezing.
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.
Touching an object or surface with the virus, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes without washing hands.
Prevention
There are currently no vaccines available. Hence preventive measures are to be followed strictly, which are
wash your hands. ( soap & water for 20 seconds)
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
Stay home while you are ill.
Avoid close contact with others.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces.
Treatment
There are no specific treatments for illnesses caused by coronaviruses.
You must consult the doctor about your illness. Give him your travel history if you have been travelled to china. Or tell him about the contact of the person who has been travelled to coronavirus affected region.
The doctor will examine you and advise some blood test to confirm whether you are the case of coronavirus infection or not. According to your illness, he may advise you for admission to the hospital. If your illness is mild then you may go home but with certain instruction to follow.
Take pain and fever medications regularly.
Take a hot shower and throat gargle to help a sore throat and cough.
You should drink plenty of water.
Stay home and take rest.
Outbreaks
Two major outbreaks we have noticed so far.
In the first outbreak, about 858 people have died from Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which first appeared in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. And spread to other countries of the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
In second, In 2003, 774 people died from a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak.
Conclusion
Like a bacterial infection, we can’t treat a viral infection with antibiotics. Because bacteria lie outside of the body cells while viruses lie inside of the body cells. That the reason why viral infection is difficult to treat.
Hence our main focus should be preventive measures.
We must follow supportive care principles.
In infection, isolation is the mainstay of treatment.
Supportive lung care treatment with hospitalisation will be life-saving for serious pt.
No need to be panic with the spread of the disease. Educate all people around you how to take care of such infected pt.
If a person is seriously ill, send him to hospitalisation with isolation. Keep Childs and old parents out of contact with such a person. Because of low immunity, they have high chances to acquire infection.
Wear a mask while going to public places and place of work.
Encourage any doubtful person for examination from a doctor.