The number of people infected with the new coronavirus and recuperating at home has rapidly increased after entering the "seventh wave", reaching 1,561,288 as of the 24th of this month, the highest number ever.

Especially for people who live alone, I think there are many things to worry about because they have to deal with everything by themselves during medical treatment or when their condition suddenly changes.



What kind of preparation do I need?

What should I do if there is a sudden change?

We asked a doctor at a home medical clinic who often faces patients undergoing home care in detail.

The person who heard the story was Dr. Atsushi Sasaki, chairman of the medical corporation "Yushokai" in Minato-ku, Tokyo.



We have developed home medical clinics in the metropolitan area, mainly in Tokyo, and since last summer we have created a dedicated team to visit corona patients.



We asked Dr. Sasaki, who works with many patients who are recuperating at home, about what people living alone need to know about recuperating.

Home treatment from now on... what kind of preparation do you need?

“For many people, think of it as a 10-day trial, which is a period of recuperation.

Of these, the period when you are attacked by "strong fever" and "sore throat" than the usual cold is about 2 to 4 days.

Let's get ready to get through the toughest four days first.

If possible, I think it is very important to prepare in advance enough food, water, medicine, etc. to survive the 10 days of living at home.”



[Food]


"It's better to have a certain amount of food that you can eat even if you have a sore throat. Patients often say that jelly-type foods and ice cream are easy to eat. It can also be stored well, so it might come in handy to buy a little more than usual.”



[Medicine]


“Basically, if you always have an antipyretic analgesic, you can usually deal with it.

Many of the painful symptoms are fever and sore throat, so acetaminophen is generally said to be an ingredient that has few side effects and is easy to use.

You can buy it at pharmacies or online, but the demand, including for medical use, is so tight right now that it's not always readily available.

In such cases, the ingredients of other antipyretic analgesics such as loxoprofen and ibuprofen are also fine, so it would be a good idea to consult a pharmacist and buy them and keep them at home.”

Can I buy a test kit and a pulse oximeter?

[Test kit]


"If you are not yet infected, it is safer to have a system in place that allows you to easily check whether you have been infected. Now, antigen test kits approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare can be purchased at pharmacies. It is labeled as "in-vitro diagnostic" in "medical" kits.

Some products are sold under the guise of ``for research,'' but please note that the performance has not been confirmed, so please be aware that they have not been tested."



[Pulse oximeter]


"A device called a 'pulse oximeter' that measures the oxygen saturation in the blood and knows the state of respiratory function is lent out to patients undergoing home treatment at local governments.

However, these days, the needs are so tight that priority is given to people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, and it may not be possible to reach those who are not.

Even if you are not eligible for rental, if you are worried and want to check it out, you can buy it online for a few thousand yen to around 10,000 yen.

It's an era like this, so I think it would be nice to have one at home, like a thermometer."

how do i shop?

“Here too, local governments and others are delivering food and other daily necessities to the homes of those receiving medical treatment, but the current situation is that the amount of support has become too large and it is not possible to reach everyone. Of course, if you run out, you will need to go shopping.Some of the patients who are recuperating seem to think that "even if you are infected, you can go shopping as long as you wear a mask." ” should be strictly observed.

Therefore, either use online shopping or ask friends and neighbors for a little help.

It is best not to touch it when handing it over, so please use "Okiai" or hang it on the doorknob.

If you really have trouble eating, you should consult with a public institution such as a public health center, and they should be able to connect you to the appropriate service.”

How do you check your health every day?

“Although this also varies depending on the municipality, basically the public health center will contact you at a fixed time, such as in the morning or evening, for the purpose of a health check, and you will receive it on your smartphone or other device via phone, email, SNS, etc. If the patient does not respond and cannot confirm the patient's safety, the public health center will call again to confirm the patient's safety. They will come directly to you, so even if you feel annoyed, please think of it as something for your own emergencies and cooperate."

What worries me is the sudden change in physical condition. Who should be especially careful?

"Basically, those with underlying diseases such as diabetes and heart failure, or obesity. Seniors aged 65 and over, pregnant women, and smokers also need to be especially careful. There are various underlying diseases, too. However, people who are being treated for respiratory diseases and cancer, and to a lesser extent people who are taking immunosuppressive drugs to treat their illnesses, are still at higher risk. In some cases, antiviral drugs are prescribed to prevent the severity of the disease, and above all, the main premise is that people who have not been vaccinated have a greater risk of becoming severely ill than those who have been vaccinated, and the risk of sequelae when infected. It's expensive, so I think it's necessary to be aware of that and try to get vaccinated early."

When you feel unwell?

"Even if you have a fever or a sore throat and don't need to call an ambulance right away, you may be worried about whether it's okay to wait and see how things go. On the other hand, if you cannot contact your primary care doctor or if you do not have a primary care doctor in the first place, the local government has set up a phone number for consultations for people with fever. In addition, there is a phone number where you can consult doctors and nurses for free if you have a problem, such as a sudden illness."



▼ "#7119" "Should I go to the hospital right away?" "Should I call an ambulance?"



▼ "#8000" Call this when parents are unsure about how to respond to their child's symptoms, or when they want to learn more about coping methods at home and observation points for the condition.



(* Please check the implementation status and reception hours for each municipality and region.)

"Don't hesitate to call an ambulance in the event of a sudden change"

"I think it's good to talk about it if you're worried about it and don't keep it to yourself. However, if the symptoms persist or new symptoms appear, such as a high fever that doesn't go away for 3 to 4 days, or difficulty breathing, it's serious. There is a possibility that it may be a signal that indicates an emergency, so please do not hesitate to call an ambulance if something happens.”



Dr. Sasaki said that the characteristic of the "7th wave" is that although there is less risk of a sudden worsening of symptoms than with the "5th wave" delta strain, in which many people died at home, it is highly contagious, so it has not been possible until now. I point out that the infection is spreading to more people.



And if you live alone, there is no one nearby who will notice changes in your physical condition. There is a risk of death in an unfavorable situation."

What kind of care should the people around you take?

"If you live alone in an area with a small population and strong neighborhood ties, people around you may gently watch over and support you even if you live alone and get infected. No. However, in large cities, there are many people who are quietly recuperating at home even if they are infected, such as having no acquaintances in their neighborhood. In that case, I think it would be difficult to rely on the neighbors, so for example, tell your colleagues and friends at work that you actually have a little infection.

The person who consulted me was a little concerned, and I asked them to send me a message on SNS saying, "Are you okay?" I think it would be good to give it to you.

It may be important to build a relationship that allows you to consult with each other on a daily basis, and to talk to someone close to you, especially if you live alone, with a feeling of "I'll take care of you if something happens." I can't."

After all, treatment must be done at home, right?

“Even those with mild or no symptoms who are elderly or who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill are hospitalized, and there are also places where local governments rent hotels and other ``accommodation facilities''.

Nurses are stationed here and doctors are available, but please check with each local government to see if they can actually be used, as circumstances such as infection status, facility capacity, and admission conditions differ depending on the region.

Click here for a related article "The 7th wave of the new corona, the bed tightness 'exceeded the limit...' home sanatorium crisis"

In the 7th wave, the medical field faces an unprecedented strain on hospital beds.

An abnormal situation continues in which people who should be hospitalized cannot be hospitalized.

why?

What can be improved?