Karnataka reported 41 Covid-19 deaths in the first half of the month. A large number of these were among people with comorbidities.
Karnataka doctors suggest people especially elderly with comorbidities should be shifted to hospital care on first sign of Covid-19 symptom. (Representative Image/Creative Commons)
Doctors in Karnataka have urged the elderly and youngsters with comorbidities not to “risk” staying at home but go for hospital care as soon as they show Covid-19-like symptoms.
The suggestion comes after an audit report of recent Covid-19 deaths in Karnataka.
According to data from the state health department, Karnataka witnessed a total of 41 deaths due to Covid-19 between 1 August and 13 August.
“Covid-19 patients who died had multiple comorbidities. A large number of deaths were reported from districts outside of Bengaluru,” a senior official of the Karnataka health department said.
The officer added, “People had tried self medications at home in the early stages of the disease and reached the hospital only at later stages.”
Hospital care is suggested for elderly and comorbid people. (Creative Commons)
Health experts told South First that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is known to change its course, so the elderly and those with comorbidities should continue checking for Oxygen saturation levels and seek hospital care.
Speaking to South First, Bengaluru’s Manipal Hospitals HoD for Sleep Medicine Dr Satyanarayana Mysore said, “The journey of the virus started off with lung involvement in China, very predominant heart involvement in Italy, and later in the US it affected other organs.”
The noted pulmonologist added, “In Covid-19 alone, it was agreed by consensus that the oxygen saturation should be more than 94 percent. The reason is a condition called ‘Happy Hypoxia’, where the patient may not realise that their oxygen level is low as it might not show any symptoms like shortness of breath, clouding of mind, or headache. But this saturation can fluctuate and lead to complications.”
The doctor claimed that a few cases of Happy Hypoxia continue to come to the hospital.
Dr Mysore said any late presentation of symptoms could lead to death.
“If people are in doubt, they should first isolate themselves, then get a Covid-19 test, check saturation levels, and seek consultation from a doctor,” he added.
Dr Manjunath CN, director of Jayadeva Hospital in Bengaluru, and also a member of the state’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for Covid-19, told South First, “Even a few teenagers have died [of Covid-19] in the state. We must remember that no testing for Covid-19 or not seeking hospital care can prove fatal.”
The doctor added, “If one has comorbidities and is showing Covid-19 symptoms, visiting a hospital for consultation should be mandatory.”
However, Dr Vinay D, an infectious disease expert from Apollo Hospitals in Bengaluru, said, “Pulse oximetry is not a 100 percent effective method in identifying complications or progression of Covid-19. It helps a patient seek early medical care. This is particularly true for those who are aged above 60 years, and obese, and have poor diabetes control, chronic kidney, lung, and heart disease,”
The TAC Chairperson Dr MK Sudarshan concurred. He said, “Of the recent deaths in the state, the majority (66 percent) were elderly (over 60 years of age), and had multiple comorbid conditions. Even others (34 percent) who were less than 60 years of age had comorbidities.”
IEC programs through ASHA workers should be done to monitor Covid-19 cases in districts. (Creative Commons)
He added, “It is recommended that an IEC campaign be conducted — at least at the health facilities and through health functionaries like ASHA workers and others — to educate people to seek hospital care on showing Covid-19 symptoms.”
Chennai-based Dr Vijayalakshmi, an infectious disease expert from SIMS Hospital, said, “Happy Hypoxia occurs in a few patients, especially those who are unvaccinated or have taken only one dose of the vaccination. It also occurs in some immunosuppressed patients post-transplant, or with chronic liver/kidney disease, uncontrolled sugars, etc. As the number of this subgroup is low, it is prudent to admit them.”
She said even Chennai was reporting a few patients with hypoxia, especially the elderly with comorbidities who had not availed healthcare early.
The following actions are a must for the elderly who have comorbidities:
May 04, 2024
May 04, 2024
May 04, 2024
May 04, 2024
May 04, 2024
May 04, 2024
