Al-Jazira fans ask about Corona ... and these are the doctors ’answers

Dr. Osama Abu Al-Rob - Al-Jazeera Net Newsroom, Doha, Mohammed Al-Minshawi - Washington

The Al Jazeera Net website has opened to its generous audience the door to questions about the emerging coronavirus, "SARS Cove 2", which causes Covid 19, and today we present to you the answers that you have waited and heal your curiosity for reliable medical information.

With the outbreak of the new Corona virus and the infection breaking the barrier of a million globally, and deaths exceeding 53,000, many questions arise in the minds of many about the virus, its spread and ways to prevent it, so it received the page of public health questions, through its Facebook and Twitter pages.

These questions that we received from you were conveyed to Dr. Khaled Al-Shami, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the United States. We also collected other questions that were circulated on the websites and provided their answers.

We start with the questions of our generous audience addressed to Dr. Al-Shami in the United States:

What is the behavior of the Corona virus inside the body?
Corona virus behavior inside the body depends on the response of the immune system to the infected person, as if the virus does not exceed the nose and throat it leads only to coughing and high body temperature, and this is what happens to most patients, but one in seven patients feel short of breath as a result of the virus invading the lungs, and about 7–6% of patients require intensive care as a result of respiratory failure due to coronavirus pneumonia.

Are there copies of the Coronavirus that were discovered in China?
It has not yet been conclusively proven that the virus has developed its genetic code since the pandemic spread from China late last year to date.

Is the cure rate of corona is higher than deaths?
The cure rate is high, as approximately one in seven patients develop pneumonia, and about 6% need respirators due to viral pneumonia, and the death rate ranges between 1 and 2% of patients with the virus.

Is allergic allergies one of the chronic diseases that its coronavirus (old and young) threatens more?
Chronic diseases that lead to pneumonia are emphysema (emphysema), diabetes and inherited or acquired immunodeficiency, while the sensitivity of the lungs (asthma) is not believed to lead to complications of corona, chiefly pneumonia.

When getting sick What are the medications for recovery?
There is evidence based on individual cases (not clinical trials in humans) that the anti-malarial drug chloroquine may be somewhat effective, especially if given with the erythromycin antibiotic, but the effectiveness of either of these drugs has not been proven conclusively.

How do I protect myself from infection or resistance to infection if it occurs?
Protection from infection comes with isolation and non-contact, as well as frequent washing of hands, and in the case of infection with the Corona virus, it is necessary to completely isolate for two weeks until the period of infection ends, and in the event of a shortness of breath, it is necessary to go to the hospital.

How does a person know that he is infected with Corona virus?
The only way is by laboratory examination of a sample of the throat using PCR technology that reveals the distinctive genetic fingerprint of the virus.

Is the Coronavirus, like the AIDS virus, in terms of the spread, I mean in its incubation period and before clinical symptoms appear? Can a pregnant woman pass it on to someone else in the same ways as AIDS?
There is no similarity between HIV transmission (blood transfusion and sexual intercourse) and the Coronavirus, which is transmitted through a sick spray or corona carrier, or by touching people or surfaces contaminated with the virus.

In your opinion, Doctor, what is the reason for the delay in finding the appropriate treatment for Corona? And if the treatment is discovered, how long does it take for the injured to be given?

Discovering virus treatment requires clinical trials to ensure safety and efficacy, an issue that is unfortunately difficult to speed up or shorten.

Is the virus contagious during the incubation period before its symptoms appear on the infected person?
Yes, most people with coronavirus have no symptoms, so it is necessary to adhere to isolation and not to contact even healthy people except when necessary.

Does good immunity prevent infection with corona virus? How can the body's immunity be strengthened? What are the most important leverage foods?
The immune system can cope with a viral, bacterial or fungal invasion. There are no medications or foods that strengthen the immune system or raise its efficiency.

Is the Coronavirus transmitted through food such as fruits, nuts, ice cream, and sweets?
No.

Before this disease came, did you know that his name is Corona virus?
Yes, Corona is a family of viruses that infects humans and animals, but the SARS Cove 2 virus responsible for the current pandemic is a new member of this family that was recognized when the epidemic began spreading from Wuhan in China at the end of last year.

Can a person develop corona again after recovering from it?
So far he thinks it is possible, but the odds are much lower compared to someone who has not had a SK.

Can corona spread densely in hot tropical regions compared to cold and temperate regions?
There is no confirmed evidence yet that weather temperatures affect the virus's ability to spread.

How long does the virus live outside the human body? Is it true what is said to live up to 9 days on hard surfaces?
Yes, the virus can live a few days on hard surfaces before its components are decomposed.

Is the disease transmitted by animals to humans?
There is no evidence of corona virus transmission from animals to humans.

How can we check our immune system before infection is done to make sure we are ready for the virus?
There are analyzes to know the efficiency of the immune system, but it is very expensive and cannot be performed on large numbers of patients, and it is assumed that the immune system is healthy except in the presence of a hereditary or acquired disease that leads to immunodeficiency, which are a few diseases.

Does influenza vaccination help to tackle Corona, especially those with chronic diseases and asthma?
The flu vaccine is not related to corona virus, and it only leads to protection from the influenza virus.

Is immunity evolving from recovered from corona?
Yes, but it is believed that this does not lead to the development of complete and sustainable immunity.

If the infection occurs, God forbid, can the smoker respond to it and recover from it? Are there statistics for Corona and smoking?

Smoking does not directly affect the patient's ability to recover from corona, but it weakens the lungs due to emphysema and chronic bronchitis that affects one degree or another most smokers.

What is the duration of corona disease before the patient recovers or dies?
Two weeks in most cases, unless other complications occur, such as a bacterial infection in addition to viruses, for example.

Since Covid-19 is a viral disease like any other viral disease, why all this intimidation and intimidation?

Because of the virus's superior ability to spread, this is the risk in this particular virus.

What precautions should be taken by health personnel to protect themselves and not to transmit infection between patients?
Follow the precautionary procedures, as well as wearing the required uniforms and masks in the event of dealing with the patient in Corona, as these clothes, gloves and masks lead to complete isolation between the patient and the medical team who is treating him.

The disease is said to affect the elderly in particular and cause their death, but what is your interpretation of the death of young doctors in China, including doctor Li Wenliang, 34, who worked at Wuhan Hospital, the first to report the emergence of the virus in the city?
Infection leads to serious complications (or death) in the elderly most of the time, not in all, and the young are also subject to complications, but to a much lesser extent than the elderly.

What precautions should we take in case we have to travel?
It is advised not to travel, but in cases of necessity you should follow the same precautions and precautions as avoiding touching surfaces, washing hands, moving far enough away from the surrounding people, and wearing a muzzle if the traveler has sneezing or coughing.

Why do not symptoms of the virus appear immediately after infection? Does the absence of direct symptoms mean that if a person recovers from the symptoms, the virus can remain in a state of inactivity within the body?
All infectious diseases have an incubation period in which symptoms do not appear until the virus or bacteria can cause damage to the organ or organs targeted to cause symptoms of the disease, and the Corona virus is no exception to this rule.

Is corona virus deadly if it affects a child suffering from asthma? What should we do if this child, God forbid, is infected with the virus?
No, it is not necessarily fatal. Infection with the virus may cause an asthma crisis, complicating the diagnosis and treatment process, but it is certainly not fatal.

What if I already have a cold, does my Corona virus double my disease and make my health in a critical condition?
not nessacary.

What is the difference between regular seasonal flu and occasional colds and Corona virus?
The difference is in the ability of the Corona virus to spread compared to the influenza virus and other viruses that mainly affect the respiratory system.

Is staying at home a safe way to prevent?
Yes, isolation and avoidance of mixing are very important in limiting the spread of the disease and in preventing it.

Are children less susceptible to coronavirus because their immunity is strong?
Children are susceptible to the disease but to a much lesser extent than the elderly, the immune system and its safety are crucial factors in anyone's interaction with the Corona virus regardless of age.

More questions
Now we turn to other questions that are traded on the websites:

How can I help my body to heal if I get corona ?
The answer to this question is provided by the Turkish Academy Sondon Durokanoglu Faiz, who was infected and overwhelmed by the Coruna virus, and she said in an interview with Anadolu that she "managed to overcome the Corona virus thanks to the health care and diet aimed at strengthening the immune system."

She said that symptoms of a corona infection began to appear on her on the night of March 12, in the form of cold, severe chills and a high temperature.

"After the first symptoms appeared, I began to feel severe pain in the leg muscles, so I went to the hospital on Friday, March 13th. I had a blood test in the hospital and on that day I was allowed to go home with a set of medications, and he asked me to Isolate myself while waiting for the test result. "

"I knew that the virus was causing critical conditions, yet figures show that 80% of infections worldwide survived this disease, so I started thinking in a positive way."

And the Turkish Academy touched that what made her sure of her survival from the disease is that she "nourishes well and exercises 2-3 times a week, as well as she does not suffer from chronic diseases."

She stated that she "put herself in a quarantine inside the house after returning from the hospital," adding that the symptoms of the disease began to appear on her husband the next day in the form of severe fever, headache and mild breathing, but these symptoms did not appear on her son.

"My son did not suffer from any symptoms, and my husband started recovering, yet we placed our son in a quarantine in another house, to make sure that he was free of the virus," she added.

"My husband and I continued to regulate our diet, consume good amounts of fruit, and sleep at regular hours to strengthen our immunity," she said, noting that doctors used some types of supplements daily to strengthen their immune system during the medication period.

She stressed "the need not to use drugs without supervision by doctors, especially since the medicines used to counter Corona need medical supervision."

Fayez warned that "the use of medications without the supervision of doctors may lead to death in some cases."

What is the true number of corona injuries in the world?
Up to ten million people worldwide may have been infected with the emerging coronavirus, but the lack of tests in some countries does not reveal the true number of people infected with the highly contagious virus, according to a statement by Australia's chief of medical services Brendan Murphy on Friday.

"We have exceeded a million injuries worldwide, but we believe the true number is five or ten times," Murphy told reporters, adding that death rates varied so closely around the world that he believed that many injuries were not discovered.

What are the top tips for a strong immune system?
Eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes whole fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates, with eggs, chicken, fish and milk products in a balanced manner without overeating.

Have a comfortable and adequate sleep.

- Activity and exercise movement, as they immerse our bodies in the hormones of happiness, which contributes to improving sleep and reduces stress and fear and also strengthens our memories and our awareness, movement and sport can be done inside the home.

Specialists recommend 30 minutes per day of movement and activity, either in one go or at intervals, the main thing is to get some movement.

Should mothers be separated from their babies because of corona?
The information currently available on the reality of the Corona virus is not sufficient, and with regard to the effect of a woman's infection with the Corona virus during pregnancy or immediately after birth and the effect of this on the fetus or newborn, the doctors have not yet reached crucial evidence.

The doctors ’recommendations in this regard are contradictory. While the health authorities in China and the United States recommend isolating newborns from mothers with Coronavirus, other parties, such as the World Health Organization, stress the necessity of keeping them together and the importance of breastfeeding, while taking the necessary precautions Like a mother wearing a medical mask.

The number of pregnant women at risk of infection with the emerging coronavirus around the world exceeds 200 million, and researchers have only recently begun to shed light on the size of the risk posed by HIV infection to these women and their children after birth, and although the preliminary data is "reassuring", researchers around the world They race to collect more data to provide stronger and more specific evidence.

To face the current lack of information about the emerging coronavirus, Dr. Manuel Schmid and his colleagues at the University Hospital Zurich are trying to "stand on middle ground" because of the recognized importance of physical contact and breastfeeding in strengthening the immune system in newborns.

The expert in infectious diseases and childbirth at Lausanne University Hospital David Baud says that permitting the mother to collect her baby depends mainly on "the mother being in a good enough health condition", and he stresses the need for the mother to wear a mask and to wash her hands and chest well before breastfeeding her baby naturally, but if she The mother's health is poor, "he should be given the opportunity to pump milk if she wants to," he said.

Is Corona virus remains alive in clothes?
Virus specialist Dinan Pillay sees that the Coruna virus can survive for some time on clothes like scarves, adding that its duration depends on the nature of the surface on which it settled, in addition to another factor that is that it "does not travel isolated to the material, but it is contained within a protein rich liquid." For example, like sputum, a thick mucus that coughs up from the lungs, "the expert added," This allows the virus to remain on the surface for a longer period. "

The German magazine Der Spiegel indicates that the main cause of infection with the Corona virus is contact with a person who carries the virus that transmits to the other person when sneezing or coughing from the carrier of the virus.

She added that the virus also spreads through hands, mouth or eyes, and that the Corona virus can also survive on plastic, stainless steel and paper surfaces, and that it has not yet been determined whether the virus stays alive on clothes.

The magazine stated that although health experts have not decided on the possibility and duration of corona virus life on clothing, it should be assumed that under certain conditions he can live in jackets and pants, calling for several preventive measures such as staying at a distance from people, washing hands regularly and not touching the face.

Does Corona cross the eye?
Turkish ophthalmologist Umit Qamish said that the Coruna virus infiltrates the human body through three ports, namely the mouth, nose and eye, stressing the need to prefer glasses to contact lenses to prevent the virus.

In a statement to Anatolia, Qamesh explained that people who use contact lenses constantly touch their eyes, which means that they are vulnerable to the transmission of infection through the eye.

And that the Chinese doctor Li Wenliang - who died from coronavirus infection after he was the first to warn of the spread of the virus in Wuhan, the stronghold of the virus - is an ophthalmologist who has been infected by one of his patients.

Al-Tayeb called on his fellow ophthalmologists to be careful and take the necessary measures during the examination of patients, given that the examination takes place from a distance of less than a meter, and he also advised people who do not have serious eye problems to postpone their visits to ophthalmologists during this period.

How do you maintain your mental health during the quarantine?
In an interview with Anatolia, the director of the mental health program at the World Health Organization office in Turkey, Akfar Kara Ocalan Kahl Ugullari, stresses the importance of protecting mental health while facing the Coruna virus.

"Fear and anxiety are the most common feelings that spread during this period due to the sudden shift in daily life," Kagul Ugullari said.

He added, "Feeling of fear and anxiety to a certain degree is a very natural reaction, and it has an effect in preserving health, but increasing these feelings to the required level causes them to cause irrational actions."

"To avoid this, information must be obtained from reliable sources such as the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization," he added.

Kahul Ugullari warned against exaggerating the follow-up of negative news on the topic in news channels and social media, which could negatively affect a person's mental health, and that the period of follow-up to this news should be controlled and only watched twice a day.

He explained that reducing the time spent watching such news can help reduce feelings of anxiety.

He stated that it is possible to use the period of staying at home to spend with the family, talk to friends or practice hobbies.

He stressed the importance of doing the usual daily work during the period of staying at home and paying attention to proper nutrition, regular sleep and exercising.

Kagul Ugulari pointed out that it is necessary to help children, the elderly and people with special needs to follow these guidelines and remind them of them from time to time.

He continued that "staying at home is the cause of radical changes in daily life, and it is natural for a person to feel under pressure, but if we can use this period to spend time with ourselves or our families, then we can reduce the psychological effects of this period."

On quarantine, Kahul Ugulalari said, "People in quarantine can feel anxious, angry, powerless and exhausted."

He stated that "these negative effects can affect the mental health of these people during the coming months or years, and for this they must be informed of the reasons for their placing in stone and the stages during which they will pass during this period."

He added that "the quarantine period should be kept as short as possible and not extend for a period longer than previously agreed unless necessary."

He stressed the need to meet all the needs of people in quarantine and assure them that they are sacrificing in order to protect others.

Kagul Ugullari indicated that failure to deal well with and control feelings of fear and anxiety could cause a state of panic, stressing that "accepting negative feelings is the first step in reducing their negative effects."

What is Corona Phobia?
Turkish scientist Dr. Elhami Glick said that the symptoms caused by the virus among people have reached a point that can be called "Corona Fopia" and means fear of disease caused by the epidemic.

He added that the fear of infection with the Coruna virus threatens people as much as it threatens the virus itself, adding, in an interview with Anatolia, that people should take the necessary measures against the virus, but without panic and fear.

The Turkish scientist stressed that "Corona must not be seen as a plague or tuberculosis, as this virus is doomed to disappear and will not remain in the human body forever."

He also stressed the importance of taking measures against the virus, adding, "At the same time, we must not forget that 95% of infected people have recovered."

He added that "because of the fear of the Corona virus, two types of methods of dealing with it appeared, the first: those people who often want to take the Corona test, and the other who avoided testing the virus."

And, "Both approaches are wrong, and the negative result of the virus does not mean that you will not catch it anymore, or that testing every day does not protect you from the virus, and that avoiding testing the virus may threaten your life and the lives of others."

He advised taking all necessary precautions recommended by health officials and continuing to live as normal without panic or panic.

How many people are currently under isolation?
According to Agence France-Presse, more than 3.9 billion people - half of the world's population - have been invited to stay in their homes to stop the spread of the Corona epidemic.

What is the status of the Corona virus in the Middle East?
The World Health Organization said on Thursday that Middle Eastern governments need to act quickly to reduce the spread of the Corona virus after the cases have risen to about 60,000, which is nearly twice the level of a week ago.

"New cases have been registered in some of the countries most at risk and where health systems are weak," said Dr. Ahmed Al-Manzari, WHO's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, which is a region that includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Djibouti, as well as countries in the Middle East.

He added in a statement that "even in countries with stronger health systems we have witnessed a worrying increase in the numbers of registered cases and deaths."

And with the exclusion of Iran - which has recorded just over 50,000 cases - confirmed cases of coronavirus have been relatively few in the Middle East compared to Europe, the United States and Asia.

But health officials fear the actual number of cases will be higher than that recorded, and that many countries with weak governments and poor health systems due to conflict find it difficult to contain the crisis.

"I cannot stress enough the gravity of the situation. The increase in the number of cases shows that the transfer takes place quickly at the local and community levels," Al-Manzari said, adding, "We still have an open window in front of us, but this window is narrowing day by day."

What is the Corona Mortality Rate?
Although preliminary data indicates that the death rate ranges between 1 and 2%, a Reuters report based on a Johns Hopkins University statistic on Thursday said that "the global death rate currently exceeds 5% of all known confirmed cases."

The report added that the number of Corona virus pandemic cases worldwide exceeded one million, with a sharp increase in the number of cases in the United States, amid the continuing increase in the number of deaths in Italy and Spain.

The number of cases reached 100 thousand in 55 days, then it reached half a million within about 76 days, and exceeded one million during the past eight days alone.