Family doctors’ call: if you have symptoms of infection, stay at home! Patients do not admit they may have the coronavirus

The Healthcare Employers’ Agreement yesterday appealed to patients not to hide the symptoms of infection, because in the situation of the coronavirus pandemic it is an extreme lack of responsibility. The announcement is a reaction of family doctors to the widespread disregard of disturbing symptoms. A high fever and muscle aches can be both flu and coronavirus infection.

1. – Recently a doctor from my clinic saw an infected patient who concealed them. It ended with a quarantine for him – says Adamiec, who explains that it extends the queues and makes access to doctors difficult for all patients
2. Do not underestimate: high fever, muscle pain, dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, and burning in the nose – GP doctors appeal, noting that these symptoms are common to flu and coronavirus
3. Symptoms should be reported during the telephone conversation, do not wait for a personal visit to the GP surgery – explains Dr. Maciej Adamiec, director of the Municipal Medical Center “Bałuty” in Łódź
4. Doctors also appeal not to show up in clinics after being released from wearing a mask. People from outside the list included in the ordinance of the minister of health will not receive these certificates – this is the official position of the PPOZ
5. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

– In the current situation, when we deal with a galloping number of infections, going to work or sending a child to school with symptoms of infection is a manifestation of extreme irresponsibility not only for their own health, but also for the lives of people, especially those with multiple diseases. We appeal to all patients with infections: stay at home! It’s already bad, but soon everything will fall apart even more! – says Bożena Janicka, president of the Alliance of Healthcare Employers, in the appeal quoted.

Doctors associated in the health care center claim that, despite the rapidly growing number of coronavirus cases, Poles continue to downplay this disease. As they wrote in the appeal: “as doctors, we are eyewitnesses, and we also receive information from many other sources that patients with symptoms of infection still go to work and send their infected children to school. They explain that they are afraid of losing their job, that they do not want to go to quarantine. Employers are also reluctant to view a person with “suspicion”. They believe that if COVID-19 is detected, it could pose a threat to the functioning of the company. They press “take a few days off and come back.” Come on with the swab.

– This approach is terrifying – sums up Bożena Janicka.

The carelessness of many patients is also confirmed by other doctors who observe their behavior in clinics on a daily basis.

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“Patients began to notice changes in the sense of smell and taste”

– The spectrum of attitudes is wide – says Dr. Maciej Adamiec, director of the Municipal Medical Center “Bałuty” in Łódź. – From disregarding the symptoms of the disease to some oversensitivity. The attitude of patients to the performance of tests is similar. Nevertheless, we aim to test for the presence of coronavirus, on average, a dozen people a day. Interestingly, patients have now started to pay more attention to impaired functioning of the senses of smell and taste, which is also due to the strong media coverage.

– High fever (38,5-40 degrees C.) and muscle pains suggesting influenza are a high probability of COVID infection. However, the dry cough, sore throat, runny nose, or – as some patients call it – a burning sensation in the nose should not be underestimated, however. If we combine the symptoms with a workplace where there is a lot of contact with other people (offices, banks, shops), we should be aware that a coronavirus infection may have occurred – writes Dr. Janicka in an appeal issued by the PPOZ.

“I urge patients to report their symptoms over the phone”

Another important thing is that patients do not hide their symptoms while making an appointment over the phone. Then the facility is able to properly prepare for their reception.

– Doctors and medical personnel have appropriate means of personal protection – says Dr. Adamiec. – However, I urge patients to report all symptoms beforehand. Recently, a doctor from my clinic saw an infected patient who concealed them. It ended up being quarantined for him. Fortunately, the doctor is fine, but he has been excluded from work for the duration of the quarantine. This has consequences for other patients, fewer staff means longer queues and more difficult access to treatment.

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We wear masks to protect ourselves and our surroundings

In addition to the appeal to stay at home, family doctors make sure that infected people do not run around shops or offices. Quarantine or isolation are certainly burdensome, but they serve to protect ourselves first, and in the event of a positive test for the presence of coronavirus, also others. “If we, Poles, do not look after ourselves (masks, swabs, not going to work with infections), everything will fall apart!” – they warn.

In addition, in recent days, patients began to come to the clinic in large numbers, asking for a certificate exempting them from the obligation to wear protective masks.

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Meanwhile, family doctors from the beginning of the pandemic are of the opinion that only DDM (Distance – Disinfection – Mask) is the only protection against horizontal transmission of the coronavirus. Therefore, they will not issue certificates of exemption from the obligation to wear masks for persons not included in the list included in the ordinance of the Minister of Health. Patients with asthma, lung diseases (eg COPD) or people with heart disease will not get them.

The April ordinance of the Ministry of Health exempts from this obligation only people with pervasive development disorders, mental disorders, moderate, severe or profound intellectual disability and those who have difficulty covering or uncovering their mouth or nose on their own.

See also:

1. How does the coronavirus attack the body? The scientists answer
2. This is how the coronavirus spreads in the supermarket and while jogging
3. First Confirmed Case of Coronavirus Reinfection in the US. Is the immunity unstable and what about the vaccine?
4. The CDC has recognized the risks of coronavirus airborne transmission. There are new guidelines

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