I investigated the anxiety and doubts I felt during my home recuperation September 1, 17:34
"What will happen to me and my family? I was worried that
my
home medical treatment was isolated from medical care and information."
I (NHK employee, 50 years old) was infected with the new corona in August. , I was treated at home.
While suffering from symptoms that cannot be imagined from the word "mild", I spent anxious days with my family alone.
"I wanted to know this kind of thing at that timing."
Now that my physical condition has recovered, I decided to ask an expert about the questions and anxieties I felt during home medical treatment because I was an experienced person.
Infection from children to the whole family ... and to home care
My home where a couple (both 50) and a college student's son (19) live together.
It was my son who first discovered the infection.
I had a fever of 38 degrees on August 7, and two days later, a positive PCR test was confirmed.
From the day my son had a fever, we completely separated the place where we lived,
and we intended to take measures against infection as much as possible in
the house
, wearing masks,
disinfecting alcohol,
and ventilating
.
However, three days after my son's fever, my wife had a fever, and two days later, I also had a fever.
As a result of the test, both of them were found to be positive, and the whole family started home medical treatment.
Question 1 When did the couple get infected?
Everyone was infected even though they took such measures.
How could it be prevented?
We asked Professor Satoshi Kutsuna of Osaka University, who is familiar with infectious diseases.
(Professor Satoshi Kutsuna, Osaka University)
"The troublesome part of this virus is that it may spread the infection even before it develops. In this case, it has already infected other family members before the onset of the disease. It is highly probable that this was the case. If you
usually wear a mask at home to keep a distance between your family members, or if you could have prevented the infection, continue to take such measures. It is quite difficult. Nevertheless, taking measures such as isolation as soon as the family develops like this is an effective way to prevent infection. In the
past, there were many cases where adults were infected and brought to their homes. With the spread of Delta strains, it is becoming more common for children to bring them into their homes and infect their families. I would like them to do what they can to prevent the spread of the infection in their homes. "
Anxiety about "sudden changes in physical condition"
The symptoms were 3 people and 3 people.
My son's fever subsided in two days and his olfaction disorder lasted for about two weeks.
From the day I had a fever, I had a fever in the 38-39 degree range for 5 days.
General malaise and coughing headaches that make it impossible to get up.
Furthermore, when I went to the bathroom, I sometimes got a lot of cold sweat and lost consciousness.
My wife had a high fever for about two weeks, and her symptoms worsened to moderate.
In addition to the symptoms that I have never experienced appear one after another, I was worried about what would happen to me and my family.
In particular, I continued to suffer from anxiety about "sudden changes" in my physical condition.
Pulse oximeter Every minute ...
"Before it's too late ..."
Thinking so, I continued to measure the oxygen saturation in the blood with a pulse oximeter.
When I noticed it, I was so "dependent" that I measured it every minute.
Even though the measurement results have been stable within the normal range.
On the other hand, my wife had uneven numbers, such as less than 90% even if she moved her body a little in the bathroom.
Because of my anxiety, I kept measuring all night, and I think I could hardly sleep.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's "Medical Care Guide", oxygen inhalation is required when the oxygen saturation falls below 93%.
The health center also explained that we should contact you "when we measure frequently and it becomes 93% or less".
My wife's numbers were uneven, and sometimes they were not below 93%, but I also complained that I had pain that could tighten my chest and back, so I was worried about pneumonia and had a dedicated consultation desk. I contacted Corona 119.
However, he said, "If you don't have a hard time sitting down, it's okay if it doesn't fall below 90%."
Question 2 What should I look for in the pulse oximeter value?
Why are there different values from 93% and 90% as a guideline for what needs to be done?
(Dr. Hiroshi Kamura, Loco Clinic Nakameguro)
"Medically, it can be said that it is an abnormal condition for people with healthy lungs to fall below 95%. I think that there is a difference in the expression of the standard value because I have to judge hospitalization. However, if you are worried, you should contact the health center or consult a doctor regardless of the value indicated by the local government. I think"
How often should I measure and what kind of condition should I contact?
Can you tell if you have pneumonia?
(Dr. Kamura)
"It is quite difficult to determine whether or not pneumonia is caused by symptoms, and the important thing is oxygen saturation. That said, you do not have to worry about that value 24 hours a day. However, if you feel suffocating or the value suddenly drops, try to measure with a shorter interval. It is often said, "Should I set a timer and measure regularly even at bedtime?" I'm asked, but if you're in pain, you'll wake up naturally, so if you're sleeping, you don't need to wake up in the middle of the night to measure. "
Questions one after another ... What about antipyretics and hydration?
As both the couple continued to have a high fever, I was worried about how to take antipyretics.
My moderately ill wife did not get rid of her fever at all once every three times after taking antipyretics.
Also, due to the influence of the medicine, I was sweating a lot and my physical strength was exhausted.
The health center instructed me to rehydrate frequently with oral rehydration solution, but I couldn't continue to drink the commercially available one because I felt it was too sweet.
So I added salt to the tea on the market and used it as a substitute, but I was worried that it might become dehydrated.
Question 3 How to take antipyretics and prevent dehydration
Should I continue to take antipyretics if I have a high fever?
How many times a day should I have an interval?
(Dr. Kamura)
"It is difficult for a doctor to decide when to take an antipyretic drug, but I would recommend taking it when you have a fever or cannot do household chores. The amount you can take at a time depends on the type of drug. For prescription drugs, the interval between doses is at the doctor's discretion, but over-the-counter drugs should be taken according to the dosage and administration. "
What kind of drink should I use to prevent dehydration?
(Dr. Kamura)
"There are some types of oral rehydration solution that are not sweet, so I think it's a good idea to choose one that is easy to drink. It is not always necessary to take water with just a drink, so it is easy to put in your mouth, such as soup or jelly. Also consider how to rehydrate. "
"Mild and home recuperation" No reference information
Home recuperation was a world isolated from medical care.
I can't get in touch with the health center right away.
I can't even go to a nearby hospital.
When I called "Corona 119", I was told that it would take several days to connect with the nurse because it was so crowded.
The point of contact with medical care was to find a medical institution that would ask Corona patients over the phone and prescribe antipyretics and painkillers.
Then, while searching the net for something I didn't understand, I realized that there were many similar people.
People at home were talking about their experiences on Twitter.
"#Corona Let's talk with everyone who is fighting illness"
The number of tweets with this hashtag started to increase around May, and in August when the number of home care recipients increased rapidly, it exceeded 20,000 in a month.
"39.9 ℃. The body anymore ..."
"I think we are worse when I got up in the morning? Does not sleep scared and"
Many are those that take the anxiety feelings, based on the questions about symptoms and medical treatment life in Tweets answered by patients and doctors.
"I wonder, such'm such become suffocating at night is to a calm in. Day"
to the post that is, a person claiming to be a nurse
sleeping prone rather than "his back, it is easier to more of the posture of the feeling that saddled the pillow with a height It said to have "and
had been answered.
I kept looking at it with the feeling of clinging to the straw.
Question 4 What is the correct information about home care?
(Dr. Kamura)
"I've been visiting people who receive medical treatment at home, and I feel that the biggest cause of anxiety is not knowing whether or not the current condition will lead to recovery. In terms of alleviating anxiety, I think it is good for people who are receiving medical treatment at home to share their experiences. However, there are many unclear effects such as the effects of medicines, so doctors can be involved in medical treatment as much as possible. please refer to the consultation and the like.
health center of the municipality have been chased to the business, I feel like that the answer to the people of anxiety and questions politely that home care has become more difficult. hard to talk around There are also many people who feel painful when the connection with the outside is lost. If you have any questions, you can have an opportunity such as a family doctor or online medical treatment like us without causing anxiety more than necessary. Please use it. "
What I think now after experiencing home medical treatment
Although diagnosed as mild, the symptoms of the new coronavirus were completely different from what I had imagined.
And I felt that it was unusual to fight a virus at risk of pneumonia on its own.
At the end of August, more than 100,000 people were receiving medical treatment at home nationwide, and many people, like me, are fighting the virus in anxiety.
Insufficient information for home recuperators.
I strongly feel that we need to convey more of the information they need.
(Media Development Planning Center Taro Kunimi / Network News Department Ken Memida / Chiu Hirooka / Tatsuro Imono)