Tested positive for covid-19? Know when to seek hospital assistance

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The covid-19 is spreading like a wildfire, a little caution can help in breaking the chain of transmission. It is necessary to keep vigilance of one’s health and observe if any covid related symptoms develop.

The government through its various ministries has been releasing guidelines and precautionary measures for people to follow and stay safe. Here are some important things one should know about treating covid-19 infection.

When should you get tested?

If a person develops any one of the symptoms of covid-19 like cough, cold, fever, they must get themselves tested. Getting tested enables proper medication.

What should you do if your results are positive?

Be calm and not panic. Till the results of the report come, they must isolate themselves until any confirmation. In case of a positive result, apart from isolation, a person should take good nutrition, do yoga, and observe covid protocols. One must keep a tab of their fever and oxygen level too.

What precautionary measures to take at home?

If a person is healthy, has not contracted the infection, or comes in contact with a covid positive patient, they must take proper precautionary measures. They must keep washing their hands with mild soap or hand wash, sanitize well, wear a mask at home and maintain social distancing too.

In addition to this, one should also take fruits, vegetables, and herbs that tend to boost immunity.

What should you do if you have tested Covid positive?

If the person is covid positive, with mild to moderate symptoms, and in-home isolation, one must always keep observing their symptoms and document if possible.

A covid positive patient must distance themselves from other family members, seek advice from a doctor, complete their course of medicine, and wear a mask at all times.

Several patients have complained of body fever and breathing issues. Thus, it is important that one stays away from cold drinks, water, and takes a proper diet that helps in increasing oxygen in the blood.

Additionally, they should also practice breathing exercises, take steam, gargle as per their doctor’s advice.

When should you visit a doctor or hospital?

The doctors and health experts have advised most of the patients not to visit the hospital on turning positive. Instead, doctors have said that most patients recover at home. They should visit a hospital only when their condition begins to get serious.

To understand when the condition is getting serious, keep checking your oxygen level. A dip below 94 should be taken care of. For immediate help, lying on the sides or stomach can improve oxygen levels in the blood.

According to the MyGovIndia Twitter handle, if the oximeter reading shows a baseline saturation of less than 94% or when there is a decline in oximeter reading before and after 6 minutes of walk is 4% more than, one must contact the hospital.

Similarly, the patient should also keep a track of fever and body temperature. Telemedicine has advised ‘paracetamol’ for fever. However, if the temperature doesn’t fall, connect with your doctor first. In most situations, going to the hospital won’t be required.