Age plays pivotal role in recovery of patient: Doctor

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 9

The 82-year-old from Pinjore, who is one of the three active cases in Panchkula district, is taking longer to recover from Covid-19. This is apparently testimony to the fact that the elderly or those above 60 years of age are more susceptible to the virus.

The octogenarian was diagnosed with the virus around a month ago, but he is still receiving treatment at an isolation ward at the General Hospital, Sector 6, Panchkula.

“His condition is stable. He is asymptomatic since his diagnosis — No cough, no fever. He is not having comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes or any other serious illness,” said Dr Rajesh Raju.

Slow recovery due to age

“As there is no specific treatment for the virus, it’s hard to generalise the time taken to recover. It totally depends upon how an immune system responds to coronavirus. Only factor responsible, predominantly, for his slow recovery is his old age,” he stated, adding that the first patient, a 44-year-old woman from Khark Mangoli in Old Panchkula, stayed in the hospital for almost three weeks.

What WHO says

In most cases with mild symptoms, the recovery period is two weeks, states the World Health Organisation. Those with severe or critical cases can take three to six weeks to recover from the disease.

About 1 in 20 people infected with the virus may require intensive care.

17 recovered so far Of the total 20 cases in the district, 17 have been cured and discharged.

Rajiv Colony’s patient stable

“The 44-year-old from Rajiv Colony, who was found Covid positive yesterday, is also stable,” Dr Raju said.