More scare about post-Covid complications than disease: Experts

Nagpur: There is more scare regarding post-Covid complications than the disease itself these days, said experts during a webinar organized by the Association of Medical Women in Nagpur (AMWN) and the Vidarbha Cancer Association (VCA).
The aim was to create awareness about post-Covid complications, medical problems countered by Covid patient and how to handle them. Dr Lakshmi Shrikhande, medical director, Shrikhande clinic, and Dr Radha Munje, president VCA, moderated the webinar.
Dr Sonia Dalaal, a pulmonologist from Vadodara, said, “It is a long journey for patients who have recovered from Covid-19 and involves three stages. Long Covid is for those who experience symptoms for more than three weeks. Chronic Covid-19 can be said to come under post-Covid issues which remain beyond 12 weeks.”
Dr Dalaal also spoke about pulmonary fibrosis and associated risks. A few of the risk factors are illness severity, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, smoking and chronic alcoholism. Not limiting her talk to only the pulmonary aspects, she also spoke on factors related to post-Covid radiology, neurological and neuropsychiatric complications.
The second segment was taken up by Dr Rajesh Swarankar, consultant pulmonologist and director of Getwell Hospital, along with chairpersons, Dr Ashok Arbat, pulmonologist and director of KRIMS Hospital, and Dr Dipti Chand, associate professor in Medicine at GMC, Nagpur.
Dr Swarankar spoke on ‘Post-Covid lung fibrosis – reality vs fear’. “Pulmonary fibrosis can be separated into two categories – first can be the result of the toxicity of the virus and second, it might develop due to dysregulation triggered by the virus. There is a lot of fear about post-Covid fibrosis but it can be treated and taken care of after discharge from the ICU, with some measures like having oxygen support at home, lung transplantation, doing a proper 6-minute walk test at home,” said Dr Swarankar.
The final segment was addressed by Charu Singh, a respiratory therapist at Getwell Hospital, along with chairpersons, Dr Meenakshi Ghadge, consultant pulmonologist, and Dr Archana Deshpande, associate professor in Medicine at GMC, Nagpur.
Singh discussed when and how to give physiotherapy. “Breathing exercises to strengthen the diaphragm and abdominal are effective. Chest clearance technique can be used to monitor positioning, percussion, vibrations, rib springing,” she said and also discussed in detail techniques for Covid recovered patients and special therapies for those who encountered ICU acquired weakness and mechanical ventilation.
An interactive session was also held. Dr Sumer Chowdhary, associate professor of respiratory medicine at NKPSIMS, presented a vote of thanks.