Irene Hartmann
03/09/2020 - 13:55
- Clarín.com
- Society
Of the people who acquire coronavirus , about 2% die. But what does the remaining 98 percent of those infected experience? That is, what happens to them after the incubation period? What are the phases that cross those who are infected with this virus?
Before explaining, Daniel Stecher, head of the "Infectology" division of the Hospital de Clínicas (University of Buenos Aires), underlined a clarification: "The first thing to understand is that we talk about a new virus. What we know, we learn as we see the characteristics. Unlike traditional diseases, what we observe may change over the days. In this case, you cannot give taxative answers . ”
However, among the 3,884 people who have already died from this elusive virosis (a hard percentage, but low in epidemiological terms) and the 111,644 patients who transit or already transited the coronavirus, the scientific community learned a lot. Because, it should be noted, 62,682 patients recovered successfully, according to the worldwide survey that updates the worldometers.info site every so often .
Before checking patients with coronavirus, a doctor at Gross Gerau Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, puts on the corresponding protection chinstrap. / Alex Kraus / Bloomberg
Once the person is infected, “the incubation period seems to be 1 to 4 days, with a maximum observed period of 14 days, and hence the recommendation of the isolation of two weeks , which everyone calls 'quarantine', using a term almost from another era, ”Stecher said.
The infectologist added that “there is a discussion about how contagious a patient can be before showing symptoms of the disease. Until this is clarified, it is not good to make assertions. Do not forget that this is a virus that appeared at the end of December and, although we learned a lot since the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 killed 50 million people, it is very difficult to learn so quickly from a new virus. It is observed, but it is not very responsible to assert when there is no security ”.
The question about the transmission of coronavirus from patients who do not show symptoms is fundamental, since “ the majority of those infected manifest mild forms of coronavirus ” and in those cases, of course, the symptoms are equally mild.
Now, how long does the pathology last in these "light" cases? According to Stecher, “in the milder tables an improvement is expected within a period of 4 or 5 days . Anyway, the sick person should remain isolated until their symptoms improve. ”
It is different if the patient manifests a lung infection: “There it is already more complex. That person may need mechanical respiratory assistance and there is a risk of death. The picture in these cases is pneumonia and is much more serious. ” In such cases, "you cannot talk about a precise number of days of illness duration," said the doctor.
Between mild and complex infections there are "gray" coronavirus formats, he clarified: "There are intermediate situations and that is why it cannot be taxative. The picture of pneumonia, in general, is not done by anyone but by people with a risk factor: older people or those with pre-existing diseases. You have to emphasize this. ”
For all cases mentioned, mild or complex, “the end of isolation is indicated by the end of the clinical disease, and this is seen by the absence of symptoms. That is, if the person coughs, it continues to spread, ”explained the expert.
Stecher was concerned about the weak or directly erroneous information circulating in social networks and in certain media: “ Reliable information is needed and there is an important dissemination of myths. You have to consult reliable sources. In my opinion, the reliable source in Argentina is the Ministry of Health of the Nation ”.
What is Coronavirus? How is it spread and how are its symptoms?
Look at the special“This virus is different from influenza, but it is important that those in the risk groups get the vaccine this year, when it is time. Thousands of people die each year from the flu, and it is a vaccine preventable disease, ”said Stecher and, cautiously, concluded:“ I want to emphasize that everything you know so far about Covid-19 is very dynamic and of recent knowledge. We must be cautious and not make statements of issues subject to confirmation or variations. ”
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