As the infection with the new coronavirus spreads rapidly and the number of people receiving medical treatment at home increases, there are cases where the symptoms worsen without the person or family noticing.
A woman in her 70s, who had been receiving medical treatment at home, had no subjective symptoms when she was examined by a doctor, but she was suddenly hospitalized after finding that the oxygen concentration in her blood was low. "The fact that people in these dangerous situations are forced to recuperate at home represents the harsh conditions of the medical care delivery system," said the doctor.
A man in his 40s living in Tokyo lives in a two-family house with his parents in his 70s, his wife in his 40s, and a son and daughter in elementary school, and this month, five people, excluding the daughter in elementary school, were infected. It was confirmed one after another.
A father in his 70s was hospitalized for moderate illness, but a man, a mother in his 70s, a wife in his 40s, and a son in elementary school were treated at home.
Of these, mothers in their 70s had symptoms of high fever and loss of taste and smell for several days, but they were able to eat.
In an interview conducted online on the 16th of this month, he said, "I would like to be hospitalized if possible, but I know it is difficult because I heard that medical care is tight and difficult. My husband is scared because his symptoms suddenly worsened." I was there.
When a doctor from a home care clinic visited on the 15th of this month, no major abnormalities were found in the lungs, but when he was examined again on the 18th because he needed follow-up, he only moved a little. The oxygen concentration in the blood dropped to 88%, and he was suddenly hospitalized because he was in a dangerous condition.
According to the website of the Japanese Respiratory Society, the oxygen concentration in the blood decreases when the ability to take oxygen into the body decreases due to lung or heart disease, and generally 96% to 99% is the standard value. ..
Less than 90% may not be able to deliver enough oxygen to the organs of the whole body, so appropriate measures are required.
According to the man, the hospitalized mother said, "Because the symptoms are progressing, we will administer the new coronavirus drug" remdesivir "that is used for critically ill patients."
The man said, "I thought my mother was mild because she usually ate rice. I didn't know that I was sick without medical knowledge. I happened to see a doctor. I was grateful that I was able to find out. "
The doctor who consulted said, "It was a dangerous situation to receive medical treatment at home. I think that the fact that these people have to receive medical treatment at home shows the severe situation of the medical care provision system."