Patient education: COVID-19 (2019 novel coronavirus)

What is COVID-19? COVID-19 is an infection caused by a type of virus called a coronavirus. It first appeared in late 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China. This infection was called “2019 novel coronavirus” until the World Health Organization (WHO) gave it a new name in February 2020. People with COVID-19 can have fever, cough, and trouble breathing. Problems with breathing happen when the infection affects the lungs and causes pneumonia

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Symptoms usually start a few days after a person is infected with the virus. But in some people it can take even longer for symptoms to appear. Symptoms can include:

• Fever higher than 100.4ºF (38ºC)
• Trouble breathing
• Cough
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling tired
• Muscle aches

Can COVID-19 be prevented? There are things you can do to reduce your chances of getting COVID-19. Some experts recommend avoiding travel to China if it is not necessary. If you do live or travel there, you can lower your risk of infection by avoiding animals and markets that sell animal products. Do not eat raw meat, and do not eat food that might have been in contact with animals without washing, peeling, or boiling it first. If possible, try to stay away from people who have any of the symptoms of COVID-19. If someone in your home has COVID-19, there are things you can to do protect yourself:

1. Keep the sick person away from others – The sick person should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom if possible.
2. Use face masks – The sick person should wear a face mask when they are in the same room as other people. If you are caring for the sick person, you can also protect yourself by wearing a face mask when you are in the room. This is especially important if the sick person cannot wear a mask.
3. Be extra careful around body fluids – If you will be in contact with the sick person’s blood, mucus, or other body fluids, wear a disposable face mask, gown, and gloves. If any body fluids touch your skin, wash your hands with soap right away.
4. Clean often – It’s especially important to clean things that are touched a lot. This includes counters, bedside tables, doorknobs, computers, phones, and bathroom surfaces.
5. Wash hands – Wash your hands with soap and water often. This is a good way to protect yourself in general, but it is especially important if you are caring for a sick person or around animals. The table has instructions on how to wash your hands to prevent spreading illness

Courtesy: WHO

Setup a appointment with our distinguished doctors in this area to discuss more. Do not ignore the symptoms. Your body is your health, and we are here to help.