Nagpur: A common experience of doctors in the present surge of Covid-19 cases in Vidarbha is that moderately and severely symptomatic patients are taking more time to recover as compared to the September wave.
Though fewer patients are needing hospitalization this time, those who are in ICU or require oxygen supply are taking more days to recover. Weakness after discharge from hospital is also a major issue and persists for a longer time, said doctors.
“During the September peak, 14 days of hospitalization was enough for most of the patients who recovered from Covid-19. At present, this span is more than 21 days,” said Dr Nilesh Bawankar, intensive care specialist. According to doctors, the co-morbidities of patients are holding sway during the Covid-19 treatment.
“Patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis are requiring more intensive care, oxygen and other support. Elderly patients are not recovering early. We have to wait after prescribing the medicines as per protocol,” said chest physician Dr P Vijayashree.
As protocol of medicines and oxygen supply is now quite clear, doctors are following it and monitoring the health parameters of the patients admitted in hospitals. For those who are recovering under home isolation, the conditions are different. Officially too, the quarantine period has been increased from 14 days to 17 days considering the late recovery of patients.
“I have been monitoring my SPO2 level and temperature daily during my quarantine period. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) authorities told me that I have to stay away from family members for 17 days now,” said Anushree Joshi, a teacher.
Doctors also said that it has been taking more time for patients to overcome the fatigue and weakness after Covid-19. “Weakness used to persist till 2 weeks earlier. But more patients are requiring rest for up to 4 weeks since March 2020,” said infectious disease specialist Dr Nitin Shinde.
A comparative analysis between daily new cases and daily recoveries indicates that patients are taking more time to recover in the current surge. In September 2020, average difference between daily new cases and daily recoveries was 240. That means everyday 240 more new cases were reported than recoveries.
In March 2021, the average difference was 1,398. In 8 days April, this number is 3,206. On April 8, nearly 5,000 more new cases were reported than number of recoveries. Due to this, the number of under-treatment patients is at a record high in this phase. In all, 81,281 patients are under treatment in Vidarbha.
Recovery slowing down?
- Average hospitalization period risen from 14 days to 21 days
- Patients with co-morbidities taking even more time to recover
- Not only elderly, but those young and fit in home isolation also taking more time
- Post-Covid fatigue or weakness staying for more than 3 weeks now
- Though severity of disease has reduced, recoveries are taking longer