LUCKNOW: In a major relief to people showing Covid-19 symptoms, but still testing negative in the gold standard
RT PCR tests, the UP government issued a standard operating protocol designating them as presumptive Covid-19 cases and issued orders to treat them alike Covid-19 regular patients.
The order, issued by additional chief secretary, heath and family welfare,
Amit Mohan Prasad, said that suspected symptomatic cases who test negative in the RT PCR method but show physiological changes like positive patients corroborated and co-related on basis of blood test, CT scan or doctor's opinion would be treated as a positive case and given treatment be given as per protocol.
The order further said that such patients will be treated at designated Covid-19 hospitals but they may be kept separate from the clearly positive cases.
Physicians in the city and medical institutions particularly Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and King George’s Medical University had noticed such cases but could not help them as they did not belong to either of the existing category – Covid or non-Covid.
As a result, RT PCR negative persons with mild-moderate symptoms took to self-medication or depended on informal advice of their doctors. “Many such patients turned to us for help. We proceeded only after explaining the risks involved and also taking clear consent,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, geriatric physician, one of the first ones to flag the issue.
Some doctors admitted that several cases may be cited who eventually died as the prevalent strain is progressing very fast. Taking a note of the problem, the order was issued. The treatment regimen is also being worked upon and will be released by the state medical education department shortly.
The move was lauded by the doctors and scientists’ community. “The order speaks for the fact that inputs from the field are being attended. It will contribute in checking non-Covid deaths,” said social scientist and community epidemiologist Dr Vishwajeet Kumar informing that the pattern has been noted in other parts of the country too including Maharahtra and Delhi.
On the reason for samples testing RT PCR negative, he said: “First of all, RT PCR is not fail-safe. There is a chance of getting 20-30% false negative cases. Then, the virus could have mutated. Thirdly, the system is under deep stress and the chances of human errors cannot be ruled out.”