How to Treat a COVID-19 Patient at Home

Currently, there isn’t an official treatment or cure for COVID-19, nevertheless, there are some recommendations that can be greatly useful to alleviate the symptoms of patients recovering from home.

Remember that the World Health Organization completely advices against the use of antibiotics or other medicines for self-medication. There are many scientific research endeavors taking place globally to find a way to treat and cure the virus, but in the meanwhile, the safest thing to do is following the care and prevention measures recommended by the WHO and other national level agencies, most of these institutions advice to follow these protocols:

• Regularly washing your hands.
• Keeping a minimum distance of six feet from others when you are exposed to other people.
• Using a disposable tissue to cover your mouth and nose for sneezing and coughing and immediately throwing it away.
• Wearing masks especially if you have COVID-19 symptoms. In case you suspect you might be infected; you must rest at home and self-isolate. Also, in the case you are taking care of a COVID patient, you must wear a mask and also should wear a face shield. The use of a medical masks for caretakers is highly recommended.

If you are caretaker of a COVID patient at home, these are some key recommendations:

• For patients who have coughing or breathlessness symptoms, it is better for them to sit in an upright position or lie on the side instead of laying on the back.
• Make sure the patient has a lot of rest and drinks plenty of fluids. This is particularly important for patients with high temperature.
• For coughing symptoms, patients may be given medicine advised by the doctor or the pharmacist to alleviate them.
• The intake of pain relievers under supervision can help alleviate some irritating symptoms.
• Bedsheets, surfaces, and spaces should always be kept clean. It might be necessary to clean surfaces repeatedly.
• Caretakers must not share items of personal use with the patient.
• Following these recommendations can help the patient feel better during the recovery, which should last around a few days. During this time, it is extremely important that the caretaker is taking care of their own health too.
• Some final but essential recommendations are observing the progress of the patient and looking out for warning signs which include breathlessness becoming more intense, sudden confusion and lips turning blue. In case of showing warning signs the caretaker must call the patient’s medical provider or an emergency facility.

Please remember this are only recommendations and you should consult your doctor if you feel sick.

Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201  Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119