Most people with COVID19 can only have mild illness and can recover at home, symptoms can last a few days, and people who have the virus will be able to feel better in a week or so. If you have COVID-19 and are caring for yourself at home, or if you are caring for a loved one with COVID-19 at home, you may have some questions: How to treat it? How do you know when emergency medical care is needed? How long is isolation necessary? What can you do to prevent transmission of the virus? How can you support a loved one who is sick, and manage your stress? Today I want to answer these questions so that calm is what prevails in this circumstance.
How to treat from home?
If you already have a positive result or feel that you have symptoms, it is important that you take action on the matter to start treating yourself and avoid infecting others, so I recommend:
- Isolation: It is important that you stay in a separate room or area in the house and that you have your own bathroom. If the only option is to share a bathroom, experts recommend opening a window or turning on a fan to increase air circulation. Clean all surfaces after the sick family member uses the bathroom, but wait as long as possible before entering because particles may still remain in the air.
- Control the temperature and oxygenation: make sure to keep control of the temperature, it is advisable to measure it 2 times a day. To treat it, you can take acetaminophen or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen.
- Maintain hydration: Dehydration is dangerous when you have a fever, and even more so for COVID-19 patients, who may have a high fever for several days. Place drinks in a cooler and keep them next to the bed. If you don’t feel like drinking water, you can opt for tea, juices, energy drinks, or soft drinks. Gelatin, applesauce, popsicles, and soup also help with hydration.
- Call a doctor to be in control of your case: Going to a doctor is always the best option. As much as we know some basic treatment tips for it, COVID19 each person is different and therefore the reaction of this virus in your body may be different from that of others. Have a doctor who can take control of your case from the beginning, he more than anyone else will know what is best for you and in case of aggravation he will be able to take action on the matter.
How do you know when emergency medical care is needed?
Monitor yourself carefully to notice if symptoms are getting worse. If symptoms seem severe, call your doctor, and you need to seek medical attention right away. Some of the serious symptoms that should alert you to go to a specialist or clinic are:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent chest pain or tightness
- Confusion that’s new
- Bluish lips or face
- Inability to stay awake
If you do not have a trusted doctor, it is best to go immediately to a hospital or clinic so that experts can evaluate your case and give you the necessary indications and care.
How long is isolation necessary?
If you don’t have access to a test to determine if you can still spread the virus, you can leave your room or home if it’s been at least 10 days since your symptoms began, if you’ve gone at least 24 hours without a fever and without taking fever-reducing medication. and whether the other symptoms are improving. Loss of taste and smell can last for weeks or months after recovery, but it should not delay the end of isolation. If you get tested to determine if you can still spread the virus, based on your test results, your doctor will tell you when you can be around others again. Most people don’t need to be screened to decide when they can be around others again.
What can you do to prevent transmission of the virus?
Preventing the transmission of the virus is the most important task of all in these times. If you already have COVID19 the main thing is that you avoid infecting others, responsibility is a task that corresponds to all of us. If this is the case, comply with isolating yourself for the necessary time, and maintain cleanliness in case you share the home with other people. And if you don’t have the virus, remember to follow the fundamental habits and recommendations to prevent transmission:
- Practice social distancing
- Wash your hands constantly
- Cover your face with a mask
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces when you get home.
How can you support a loved one who is sick, and manage your stress?
During the process, you or your loved one need emotional support. Continue to stay in touch with others through texts, phone calls, or video conferences. Share your concerns, in these moments releasing what you feel is necessary for your mental health. Staying calm and not feeling stress are the key, so we advise you:
- Avoid exposing yourself to constant news of the virus, take advantage of that time to distract yourself by reading a book, watching series or movies. Overwhelming yourself with COVID information will not be healthy at all.
- Keep your diet healthy and hydrated, believe it or not, this has an impact on your mental health.
- When you’re caring for a loved one who has COVID-19, you may also feel stressed. You may worry about your health and the health of the sick person, seek support at all times, not focusing on the issue of the virus but rather keeping your spirits up by doing fun and de-stressing things.
Although we are living in a very hard time and that the fear of contracting COVID19 is growing when we see what has happened around the world, it is important to remember that the vast majority of people who contract it manage to overcome it. The important thing is to maintain constant monitoring of the situation and treat according to medical indications. Don’t be discouraged! You will soon be able to get out of this situation.
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