The spread of the new coronavirus has not stopped, and at university hospitals that treat patients in the Tokyo metropolitan area, there are a number of cases in which patients hospitalized for moderate illness turn into severe illness a few days later.

Doctors say, "It is said that the number of severe cases is less than before, but in reality, there are many moderate cases under the iceberg, which is called severe, and we do not know when it will worsen, so we cannot relax our vigilance."

The Saitama Medical Center General Medical Center in Kawagoe City is treating severe and moderately ill patients, and since last week, patients with worsening symptoms have been brought to other hospitals every day.



As of the 24th, 13 people were hospitalized, 10 were in the younger generation in their 30s and 50s, and 11 were infected with the mutant virus "Delta strain" confirmed in India. increase.



The symptoms are "severe", "moderate", and "mild" in descending order, but in the medical field, "moderate" is "moderate 2" whose symptoms worsen to the extent that oxygen inhalation is required, and other "moderate 2". It is classified as "moderate 1".



So far, there are 2 "severe" and 7 "moderate 2" at this hospital, but the 2 severely ill have become more severe than they were moderate at the time of admission.



A male patient in his 50s had worsened to a "moderate 2" level after admission, but was able to recover as a result of treatment.



The man said, "The fever was so high that it was hard. I don't want to get Corona again."



Professor Hideaki Oka of the Department of Infectious Diseases said, "Moderate disease 2 is often misunderstood, but there are places where it is classified as severe overseas, and it is one step before the ventilator, which requires inhaling oxygen. It is said that there are few serious illnesses, but in fact, under the iceberg of severe illness, the characteristic of the fifth wave is that there are a large number of moderate illness 2 like a reserve army. In some cases, it gets worse and requires a life-sustaining device, so we cannot relax our vigilance. "

Severity is classified into 4 levels

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, in the medical field corresponding to the new corona, the severity is classified into four stages of "severe", "moderate 2", "moderate 1" and "mild".



Of these, "moderate 2" is said to be at the stage of considering the installation of a respirator when the oxygen level in the blood is 93% or less and respiratory failure occurs.



This is classified as the second most severe symptom after "severe" with a ventilator or heart-lung machine = ECMO.

Men who temporarily deteriorated to "moderate 2"

Earlier this month, a man in his 50s who was admitted to the Saitama Medical Center General Medical Center was confirmed to be infected with the highly infectious mutant virus "Delta strain" confirmed in India.



The man had not been vaccinated and was initially diagnosed with mild illness, but was hospitalized because of an underlying illness.



After that, pneumonia gradually spread, and the oxygen level in the blood deteriorated. About one week after admission, I had to wear an oxygen mask, and the condition worsened to "moderate 2".



After that, as a result of intensive treatment, he managed to recover and responded to the interview in the form of a doctor asking a question.



The man said, "I suddenly got chills during work and collapsed in the break room. I had a fever of 39 degrees or more and it was just hard. I was anxious during hospitalization and I do not want to take Corona again." I was talking.



The man was relieved when his doctor told him he was recovering.



Professor Hideaki Oka of the Department of Infectious Diseases, who was in charge of the treatment, said, "This patient became moderately ill 2 on the 7th day after admission. It may become serious or serious. If it is judged that it is okay by looking at the number of seriously ill people today, I have to say that it will be behind the scenes. "