MILD COVID

The content of this post is for information only. This is not professional advice or diagnosis. Please consult your doctor.

Mild Covid are RTPCR positive.

They are usually managed at home.

Only symptomatic treatment required.

They have to be in strict isolation for at least 10 days.

Their oxygen saturation will be 95 or above.

They do not have breathing difficulty either at rest or on exertion (This is checked by making the person walk for 6 minutes, twice a day, around the room and monitor the oxygen saturation).

They could have fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, body ache, nausea, vomiting, loss of taste or smell.

If they are otherwise well, with no other medical problems

No XRay or CT scan.

No specific blood test required

The following people may require tests and close monitoring

·       If they are not feeling well

·       above 60 – 65 years age

·       High blood pressure or heart disease

·       Diabetes

·       Dialysis or Kidney problems

·       Cancer survivor or on treatment

·       Lung diseases

·       Pregnant

·       Smoker

·       On steroids or immunosuppressive medicines

·       Have had a Transplant

 

Covid 19 illness severity

In Covid 19 diagnosed (RTPCR positive) persons

Aymptomatic  =  No symptoms, for the duration of the illness

Pre symptomatic = The time period before symptoms start

Mild = Oxygen saturation 95 or more, No shortness of breath, No abnormality on chest imaging

They could have fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, body ache, nausea, vomiting, loss of taste or smell.

Moderate = oxygen saturation less than 94. Show evidence of chest infection on clinical exam or X ray / CT

Severe = oxygen saturation less than 94, lung infiltrates more than 50%, PaO2 / FiO2 < 300

Critical = Respiratory failure, Septic shock etc

Reference CDC, USA

Fever - When is a high temperature fever

Normal body temperature ranges between 36 C to 38 C (96.8 F to 100.4 F). This is measured in the arm pit.  The body is cooler in the morning and gets warmer as the day progresses.

Mild fever is 38 C to 40 C. 

High fever is 40 C to 42 C.

At or above 42 C the internal organs of the body could get damaged.

Fever is a part of the body's protective mechanism. It is an outward sign that the body is fighting an infection or inflammation. By itself, Fever itself is not harmful.

 Reference NICE guidelines, UK

Baby Blues & Post Partum Depression

Birth of a baby is one of the happiest moments for a woman.  In a few days lack of sleep, back pain and cracked painful nipples related to Infant care and Breast feeding could cause unhappiness. This results in mood swings, crying spells and anxiety. These are Baby Blues and last about 10 days. Unfortunately for some it gets worse and lasts longer than 2 weeks and is called Depression. It is not a personality problem or a character issue. It could be due to the hormonal changes related to child birth. It is important to identify it and seek help. See the above video to understand about Depression. This questionnaire helps to diagnose this condition.

Expressed Breast milk storage

Room temperature = 6 hours

Insulated cooler with ice packs = 1 day

Refrigerator (at the back, NOT the door) = 5 - 8 days

Freezer (standard refrigerator) = 3 - 6 mth

Freezer (chest freezer) = 6 - 12 mth

Adapted from the Baby care diary of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics

MMR vaccine

MMR stands for Measles, Mumps and Rubella. These are viral infections that can occasionally cause serious life threatening illnesses.
As per the Indian Academy of Paediatrics vaccination schedule 2016 3 doses at 9 months, 15 months and 4-6 years of age are suggested.

Which Soap and Oil to use

In general most babies have normal skin. In my opinion all soaps (costliest to the cheapest) and oil (coconut oil to olive oil) are the same. Traditionally different products are used in different parts of India. Usually with the same result - a happy healthy baby.

It's the massage or the daily bathing that is more important.

I suggest that it is preferable for parents (mum and dad) to do the massage and give the bath rather than other individuals ( e.g. grandparents or maids).