Mild symptoms can be treated at home. However, doctors say you should never self-medicate and always seek the advice and recommendations of the doctor. Symptoms of coronavirus include:
- Cough
- Fever
- Tiredness
Serious symptoms
- Loss of movement or speech
- Chest pain or pressure
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
With the increasing number of infected people in the hospital, doctors are suggesting that if you have mild symptoms you can just self-quarantine. If you or a family member has signs of mild symptoms, here’s what you can do while self-quarantine:
- Observe strict home quarantine: You must stay at home as soon as you develop any symptoms. If you are the one who does the groceries or going outside to buy essential needs, ask someone to do the task in the meantime.
The symptomatic individual should always stay at home and be isolated unless they need medical help when their symptom gets worse. Once this happens, you need to call your local emergency department for consultation.
- Do not self-medicate: Coughs and colds can be treated with the usual medicines such as paracetamol or mucolytics. On the other hand, if you feel that you have worse symptoms always seek the advice of a doctor.
Over-the-counter prescriptions are taken on an as-needed basis. It may or may not work but if symptoms persist, consult your health authorities again.
HOME CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19
- If you are ill with cough and fever, clean hands regularly. Keep alcohol-based sanitizer on hand.
- Stay at home and do not attend school, work, or go out in public places. You just need to rest, eat nutritious food, and drink a lot of fluids.
- Stay in a separate room from other family members. If it’s not possible, you need to keep a distance of 1-2 meters from other people in your household. Keep your room well-ventilated and use a dedicated bathroom.
- Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing. You can use a tissue or flex your elbow to cover your mouth and nose. If you experience difficulty breathing, call your health care authorities right away.
Below is a list of supplied you may be needed when treating the infection at home;
- Clean water: Water must be at the top list of supplies you need. It’s vital to stay hydrated especially if the fever is high.
- Pain medication: The most needed medicine is something that decreases body aches, headaches, and fever.
- Tissues: Viral droplets spread by sneezing, coughing, or spitting are the ways that the infection spreads from person-to-person.
- Cough medicines: Several people infected with coronavirus have a strong cough. If you have asthma or other respiratory condition, it is essential to continue your routine respiratory medicine. If it’s not possible to have any cough medicines, you can have a cough drop that contains honey. It may help soothe your cough.
- Zinc: This has become one of the most famous recommendations for reducingsymptoms of coronavirus.
- Vitamin C: This supports the activity of your immune cells. During outbreaks, it works more than how they usually do.
- Household cleaning and sanitizing products: You need to keep your surface clean.
- Extra towels and sheets: You are contaminating every surface you come in contact with if you are ill. Hard surfaces can be disinfected but towels and sheets need to be laundered safely with a hot wash cycle for them to be safe before using again.
