‘Caregiver shouldn’t be from high-risk groups’

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, November 21

Asymptomatic or those with mild Covid symptoms are usually preferring to isolate at home and during the period, they need special care and attention.

Dr Sushil Gupta, Senior Consultant, Pulmonology/ Chest and Sleep Medicine, Fortis Hospital, said: “If someone is taking care of an asymptomatic or mild symptomatic Covid-19 patient at home, a few precautious should be taken to protect themselves and others from catching the infection.”

Tips for patient

• A paracetamol tablet may be taken for fever and body aches.
• Stay hydrated.
• Take adequate rest for sufficient time with good sleep.
• Should stay in a separate room with separate attached washroom and windows should be kept open for ventilation.
• Covid-19 patients may stay with each other, but they should not roam around in the house or outside.
• Patients can opt for online shopping for necessary things such as grocery with online transaction.
• Wear a mask whenever the caregiver enters the room.
• Avoid sharing personal items such as mobile phone, laptop, towel, bedding, clothes, utensils and stationery

“The elderly and people of any age with underlying medical condition are at a higher risk for developing severe Covid as compared to young and healthy person. People at a higher risk of severe illness should call their doctor as soon as symptoms appear,” he said.

Dr Gupta said the caregivers should look out for any emergency warning signs such as breathing difficulty, pressure in chest, bluish discolouration of lips, face or finders, confusion or severe loose stools. They should have helpline contact, hospital emergency or doctor’s number handy.

For Caregiver

The caregiver of a Covid-19 patient should also stay at home and limit contact with other people.

The caregiver should wear a mask while in the patient’s room.

The caregiver should wear gloves while touching the patient and their objects such as clothes, linen, dishes or cups and remove them immediately after completing the job.

Hands should be washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 second after taking off the gloves.

The caregiver should avoid sharing personal items with the Covid patient.

Another medicine specialist Dr Bajaj said the first step towards taking care of a Covid patient at home was to have them in complete isolation. “Home treatment is possible only in those households that have separate room and a dedicated bathroom for the patient,” he said.

“Call doctor if the patient is getting sicker. Covid-19 may spread to those who come in close contact of a patient through respiratory triplets while talking, coughing or sneezing. So caregiver should not be someone who is at a higher risk of severe infection. The caregiver should definitely know the precautions that need to be taken,” he said.

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