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The fourth wave of coronavirus has “made itself at home” in Poland for good. The number of COVID-19 infections is about to rise significantly. We are not writing about it to scare you, but to remind you to be prepared in case of infection. In most cases, the disease is mild, and home treatment is sufficient. So what is worth having on hand to minimize discomfort?
- Regardless of the variant, the main symptoms of COVID-19 remain the same
- These include headache, sore throat, runny nose, fever, cough, fatigue, and muscle aches
- We do not have mild COVID-19 drugs that can only be used to treat this disease as a causative one. That is why we use symptomatic treatment – says doctor Bartosz Fiałek
- The measures to alleviate the symptoms are most often found in our home medicine cabinet, they are also available without a prescription
- What exactly should we stock up on to get the coronavirus at home without complications?
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
Delta variant in Poland. It comes infected
On Thursday, the Ministry of Health announced 390 new coronavirus infections. This is the highest number of cases since June 10, which is almost three months. So what happened, what epidemiologists predicted – the beginning of the fourth wave took place at the turn of August and September.
And this is just the beginning of the increases. Students returned to school, adults returned to work from holidays, so the fourth wave will not show its true face in a few weeks. The Delta coronavirus variant affects even vaccinated people, which is why specialists estimate that the number of cases may reach the same size as in the United Kingdom, i.e. even 30. daily.
So how to prepare for COVID-19 infection? What should be in our first aid kit in case of infection?
There is no cure for COVID-19
Unfortunately, there is no universal cure for COVID-19 and perhaps never will be, as Prof. Krzysztof Tomasiewicz, head of the Department and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin.
«What is the COVID-19 drug? Is it a drug that is supposed to inhibit the development of the disease at an early stage? Is it a medicine to heal the dying person? We are talking about a disease so complicated, with such different stages that there is no universal medicine here »- emphasizes prof. Tomasiewicz, member of the Medical Council for COVID-19 at the Prime Minister, vice-president of the Polish Society of Epidemiologists and Doctors of Infectious Diseases.
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Just because there’s no cure doesn’t mean we don’t know how to relieve symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
Delta variant. How do we heal at home?
Doctor Bartosz Fiałek fell ill with COVID-19 in November last year. He then posted tips on home treatment for coronavirus on FB.
«All supplements, including vitamins A, B, C, D3, E, zinc, beetroot lyophilisate, magnesium, etc., are NOT recommended in the treatment of COVID-19», «In case of pain and / or fever, we use painkillers / antipyretic – acetaminophen, i.e. paracetamol, ibuprofen, or metamizole, or pyralgine »,« In the case of cough, we can use the appropriate one (blocking the cough reflex in the case of dry cough / expectorant in the case of productive cough – remember the time of the day; not in the evening!) cough syrup »- he wrote among others.
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Has anything changed in the home treatment of the coronavirus now that the Delta variant is dominant?
«What I wrote about in November remains valid. Most respiratory viral infections do not have a causal treatment. In the initial stages of flu treatment, we have oseltamivir, which is causal, reducing the risk of developing a severe form of the disease. With SARS-CoV-2, we have monoclonal antibodies, also in the initial stage of the disease, but this treatment is used in the hospital and indicated in the group of people at high risk of progression to the severe course of COVID-19 ″ – says Bartosz Fiałek
«There are no “home” or over-the-counter medications that would affect the course of COVID-19 (eg, shorten the duration of the disease). We can only help to reduce symptoms, and I suggest you do so. If we have a mild disease, the standard action is the same as with the common cold. Drink a lot, use painkillers in case of pain, antipyretic drugs in case of fever, rest a lot, air the room in which we are staying. In addition, when patients are at risk of complications from COVID-19, according to studies published in The Lancet, budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid, may be used. This drug actually improves the course of the disease and reduces the risk of complications such as hospitalization and death from COVID-19. However, it is a prescription drug that should be prescribed by a doctor»Explains the doctor.
«In the case of a dry, unproductive cough, antitussive drugs, such as codeine derivatives, can be used. When coughing is accompanied by disturbing symptoms, such as shortness of breath, you should see a doctor. Then we first seek medical help and not use an antitussive drug«.
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«We lower the increased body temperature when we have a fever (from 38 degrees Celsius). We use antipyretic drugs, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, if we are not allergic to them. If your body temperature is below 38 degrees C, you let your body fight the infection on its own. In case of pain, we take a painkiller. It is important to know that in most cases a painkiller also has an antipyretic effect. »
«When we have an elevated body temperature, we drink more. And it is very important to rest in order to regenerate »
Fiałek also maintains its opinion regarding the intake of vitamin D3 during the disease. «Many vitamin D3 supplements are available over-the-counter, but we do not use vitamin D19 to treat COVID-XNUMX as there is no scientific evidence that treatment with this supplement improves. We know that people who had normal vitamin D3 levels had a milder disease compared to those who were deficient, but we have no data that taking vitamin D3 after contracting COVID-19 reduces the consequences of the disease. It is necessary to maintain the correct concentration of this vitamin all the time, and not to treat it with COVID-19, because there are no reports of its effectiveness in this area “- writes a specialist in the field of rheumatology.
“The use of dietary supplements should not be used to treat COVID-19. The diet should always be rich in the necessary micronutrients, including vitamins. However, we do not have scientific evidence that after falling ill with COVID-19, the use of dietary supplements improves the course of the disease or shortens its duration. If we have a vitamin D19 deficiency before contracting COVID-3, there is a greater risk that the disease will be more severe than in the case of its normal concentration. Compensating for shortages during COVID-19 will not improve its course»Adds the doctor.
«We also do not use aspirin as there have recently been reports that someone in the United States only used this drug for COVID-19 treatment and eventually died»- emphasizes Fiałek.
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«So, first of all, we use symptomatic, analgesic and antipyretic drugs, because most often we note these symptoms – pain and fever. However, if there are symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness and headaches, loss of consciousness, high fever, which we cannot reduce with over-the-counter medications, we first go to the doctor »- the doctor concludes.
COVID-19. What medications should we have?
Currently, there are about 2 people infected with the SARS-CoV-150 virus in Poland. (this is an estimate, the Ministry of Health stopped giving official data a few weeks ago). There are 475 people in the hospital, 55 of whom require a ventilator. It can therefore be seen that there are very few severe cases compared to the total number of those infected.
The vast majority of COVID-19 sufferers go through it mildly. This is due to the specificity of the virus, but also to the fact that currently almost 50 percent. Poles are fully vaccinated. There is no better protection against severe disease.
- COVID-19 symptoms – what are the most common symptoms now?
The Delta variant is already responsible for almost 100 percent. COVID-19 cases in Poland. Its symptoms differ slightly from those reported in case of infection with earlier variants, but the list of the most common ones has not changed much. These include headache, sore throat, runny nose, fever, cough, fatigue, and muscle aches. Less often there is loss of taste or smell, and diarrhea may appear.
That is why we only use symptomatic treatment at home. So what should be in our first aid kit in case of coronavirus infection?
- anti-pyretics / painkillers – paracetamol, ibuprofen, pyralgina
- leki for the throat
- cough medications – an expectorant and cough suppressant for different symptoms
- in case of diarrhea – probiotics, containing good bacteria in the digestive tract
In the case of coronavirus infection, aspirin is not recommended. – Aspirin causes sweating and then rapid weakening, which in the case of viral diseases is not the best for the patient – said Dr. Katarzyna Śleziak-Barglik, head of the POZ clinic in Ruda Śląska.
Let us remember about important rules. We use drugs in accordance with the guidelines contained in the leaflets, we do not take expectorant syrup at night, and we do not take antipyretic drugs as a preventive measure, only in cases where a fever actually occurs.
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Drink a lot, rest, air the rooms, check the results
What else do doctors remind you of?
Adequate hydration is very important. The right amount of fluids soothes and moisturizes, we should write out at least 2,5 liters of water a day. A proper diet is also important. In the case of viral infections, the appetite is sometimes limited, especially when there is a loss of taste and smell, but a well-balanced diet rich in vegetables will give us strength to fight the disease.
- What medications should you have in your first aid kit in case of COVID-19 symptoms? [WE EXPLAIN]
We must also not forget about the proper ventilation of the rooms, this is a key issue, especially in the case of the coronavirus.
The coronavirus severely weakens the body – even in mild cases – so you should get as much rest as you need. Long sleep has therapeutic properties. And it’s not just about physical rest, reducing stress is also critical to your recovery.
Let’s check the temperature regularly, but also the saturation. A pulse oximeter is inexpensive and very easy to use. A result below 92 should worry us, then it is worth consulting a doctor.
When after the ambulance?
If symptoms worsen, contact your doctor. You don’t have to call the ambulance right away. An unnecessary call for an ambulance may make it impossible for a person who needs it more.
So when do we call the emergency number? What symptoms qualify for the arrival of rescuers?
– Very high fever, sometimes associated with chills, shortness of breath that prevents breathing, sharp pain in the chest, loss of consciousness and impaired consciousness – says Piotr Dymon, a long-term paramedic.
- How to treat mild symptoms of coronavirus infection?
What information should I collect before making a call? First, give the address and say what you are calling about.
– The easiest way to describe it is one sentence: answer the dispatcher’s questions and not lie. The key information is that the situation concerns a patient with COVID-19. I know people are generally very upset, but don’t panic. It is important to calmly describe the situation, give the patient’s age, symptoms and their severity. It’s also good to say how long these symptoms last and when they first appeared – explains the paramedic.
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