Many advocate anticoagulant therapy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 15 2021: Some senior retired and working medical professionals have opined that the way COVID-19 second wave is treated in the State is not exactly in line with the guidelines given by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Centre for Disease Control (CDC), America and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) .

The second wave is very deadly and health conditions of infected persons get deteriorated to critical levels within a very short time.

Given this reality, there is no room for laxity on the part of patients as well as frontline warriors.

There were cases of some individuals brought to hospitals for they did not feel well.

Even as they tested positive for COVID-19, no complications were seen in their X-ray and CT scan results.

As such, they were discharged but after a couple of days, their conditions became critical and they failed to respond to any medical treatment, and ultimately expired, the senior medical professionals said.

If one is in home isolation after being infected by COVID-19 and his/her oxygen level is 96 per cent or within normal range, he/she should walk for six minutes within the room and the oxygen level should be measured immediately.

In case the oxygen level remains at the previous level or above, it should be assumed that there is no COVID complication, they said.

However, if the oxygen saturation dips below the previous reading, one may assume that there would be COVID complications.

In such a case, the COVID patient must be treated with anticoagulant or blood thinner therapy urgently, according to experts.

Two types of drugs namely; LMWH (Low Molecular Weight Heparin) and decadron tablets are used in anticoagulant therapy.

During the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, LMWH injection is administered seven days after an individual has been tested positive but during this second wave, the same injection should be adminis- tered within three/four days, experts said.

However, with the second wave becoming more deadlier, LMWH injection is administered as soon as one is confirmed to be COVID positive.

Decadron tablets are given six/seven days after an individual has been tested positive.

Taking zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, frequent exposure to steam and rinsing mouth with chlorhexidine or betadine are also helpful.

The experts went on to claim that anticoagulant therapy has succeeded in saving many lives.

In view of the inability to take COVID patients to hospitals in time and shortage of beds in hospitals, anticoagulant therapy may be recommended for COVID patients under home isolation, the experts asserted.

Even a team of medical experts may look into the benefits or effectiveness of anticoagulant therapy.

If it is found beneficial, consultants may be designated at district and Assembly constituency levels, the senior medical professionals added.

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