New Covid wave less dangerous, most don’t need a jab: Doctor
A DOCTOR who specialises in respiratory diseases urged the public to be mindful of the new wave of Covid-19 now spreading in Thailand but not panic because the virus is now less dangerous, Naewna newspaper said this morning (May 13).
Dr. Manoon Leechawengwong, head of ICU specialising in respiratory diseases, critically ill patients and elderly diseases at Vichaiyut Hospital, wrote on his Facebook page “Dr. Manoon Leechawengwong FC” that the Covid-19 virus currently spreading here has evolved on its own greatly reducing the severity of the disease compared to early outbreaks.
For this reason, those who have been infected with this virus or have previously been vaccinated are not in the risk group and do not need a jab.
Only those in the risk group, that is never been vaccinated against Covid or never infected, need a jab and there are very few of them. Yet it entirely depends on them whether they agree to get vaccinated.
Dr. Manoon mentioned a recent Covid case, with this being a 91-year-old woman who developed a cough and had a slight runny nose for two days but no fever, fatigue, never had Covid and has been vaccinated four times. She had picked up the infection from her daughter.
She was admitted to the hospital on May 6 while having many underlying diseases including diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease, autoimmune disease – lupus (SLE), and taking immunosuppressants. She is bedridden but is aware of what is going on and able to follow orders.
Physical examination showed she had no fever, normal lung auscultation and normal fingertip oxygen level of 98% therefore there was no need for oxygen support with chest X-ray also being normal.
Diagnosis: First time infected with Covid-19 virus, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and SLE.
She was given intravenous antiviral drug Remdesivir for three days after which her cough improved, no fever, no fatigue and another chest X-ray before going home on May 10 was normal. Follow-up phone call on May 12 revealed the patient was fine, no fever and no fatigue.
Dr. Manoon said this elderly patient with many underlying diseases caught Covid for the first time and was in a high-risk group for severe illness. But it turned out that her symptoms were like that of a common cold and she got better after taking Remdesivir for only three days.
In previous outbreaks, doctors would give Remdesivir to older Covid patients with multiple underlying diseases who had low immunity like this patient for at least five days.
Dr Manoon therefore urged everyone to be careful but not panic about catching Covid.
Photo: Naewna
This report was originally published by www.thainewsroom.com
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