The early symptoms of Covid-19 produced by the Omicron form may differ from those caused by the Delta variant responsible for the infections last year. In serious cases, though, physicians claim there aren’t many changes in symptoms between the two versions.
Doctors reported seeing patients coming to hospitals with prolonged and high fever, poor oxygen saturation, and elevated inflammatory markers, as in the second wave. Some patients in the present wave had peripheral ground glass opacity, which was a sign of serious lung damage induced by Covid during the second wave.
On the positive side, the percentage of severe cases was substantially lower than what was during the second wave, according to the experts. “We currently have twenty seven patients in the hospital altogether. Among them 8 are on oxygen support and only 1 is in ICU,” said Dr. Sumit Ray, director of critical care at Holy Family Hospital. He went on to say that the majority of the hospitalised patients were either old or had co-morbidities.
According to the Delhi Corona App, Lok Nayak Hospital now has more than 100 Covid patients on its ward.
The majority of patients, according to Dr Suresh Kumar, medical director of the Delhi government-run hospital, experienced mild to severe symptoms. “The thing is better or not is yet to be said, but this time, by the mercy of God substantially few people required ICU assistance,” Kumar added. “Among our patients are persons with inadequate immunity, persons who have been suffering from cancers long, and people with chronic renal illnesses.”
Ray said that Covid was no longer a completely unknown substance for human immune system when questioned why some people suffered severe symptoms while the majority of others were asymptomatic or barely impacted. “Because of previous infection and immunisation, our body recognises the virus and protects it from creating major sickness,” Ray explained. “However, some patients continue to acquire serious infections because their immune system is unable to generate a substantial reaction to the virus, maybe due to inadequate immunity, underlying sickness, or other factors.”
According to the Holy Family doctor, infection with the Omicron form did harm the lungs in a small proportion of Covid patients. “A CT scan of their lungs reveals lesions comparable to those found in the second wave,” Ray explained.
Dr. Gaurav Thukral, chief operating officer of Healthcare at Home, which performs triaging and home isolation monitoring for the Delhi government, stated that shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, drowsiness or altered consciousness, chest pain or pressure in the chest, fever higher than 100 degrees F for more than three days and SPO2 less than 93 percent (3 readings in one hour with accurate method of measurement) or respiratory rate more than 24 beats per minute are all red flags. “Prompt therapy can help avert problems,” he said.
The majority of treatment is symptomatic. “Covid, like other respiratory viral infections, is self-limiting.” Through innate and adaptive immune responses, our bodies develop the finest antivirals to defend us from these viruses. “The best technique to deal with infection is with the three Ps: patience, positivity (of mind), and paracetamol,” said Dr. Neeraj Nischal, extra professor of medicine at AIIMS. “Some people may require supporting measures such as cough syrup, throat lozenges, or allergy medicine.”
Molnupiravir, an antibody cocktail medication, is being prescribed by a growing number of hospitals and clinicians. However, government authorities have characterised its advantages as ‘limited,’ and it should be used with caution.