Penelope Canonico
08/26/2021 12:07 PM
Clarín.com
Society
Updated 08/26/2021 12:12 PM
Many of our healthy habits have been affected by the
pandemic
.
Although the Covid incorporates new behaviors such as continuous hand washing, the use of face masks and alcohol gel;
day-to-day health was neglected,
that of small gestures made up of
periodic check-ups and prevention.
The problem is that these oversights are not innocuous and can take their toll over time.
Behind them, a "coronaphobia" lurks.
The fear of contagion.
But not attending medical visits for fear of contracting the virus can lead to
irreparable damage
, especially when there is a serious pathology.
Glaucoma, myopia, tooth decay, bruxism and skin problems such as dermatitis or dryness from the constant use of alcohol gel are some of the
frequent issues due to lack of control
.
Although, with its limitations, telemedicine
helped to supply the presence in the medical room, the specialists consulted by
Clarín
agree that there was a
decrease in care during the pandemic
and, consequently, the patients
neglected eye, oral and skin health.
In addition, they emphasize that
certain procedures cannot be corrected with attention mediated by the screen.
Sight control
“Between March and September 2020, routine ophthalmological consultations
fell to practically zero,
scheduled surgeries were suspended and care was restricted exclusively to the emergency room. Meanwhile, from October to July 2021, a
timid recovery took place
, with fluctuations related to the restrictions applied to the mobility of the population. However,
there is still no normality in the care
”, describes Germán Bianchi, ophthalmologist and head of corneal transplantation at Clínica Nano.
In ophthalmology, there are pathologies whose initial manifestations are asymptomatic, silent, such as, for example,
glaucoma that progressively affects the fiber layer of the optic nerve
and
retinal alterations in association with diabetes
.
"If they are not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, they may evolve to blindness and even have a fatal outcome," says Bianchi.
In tune, he comments that "blood glucose peaks due to lack of control during the pandemic caused great damage at the organic level."
Ophthalmological control
Another cloth to cut is the panorama of those who had scheduled surgeries such as cataracts.
“In the best of cases, delaying certain surgical procedures over time affected the quality of life in that period, but in many others, the change in the stage of a disease that requires surgery for its resolution also modifies the expectation of the surgical result. , increasing the percentage of possible complications ”, warns the expert.
And he emphasizes once again the relevance of the ophthalmological consultation where general pathologies are detected.
For example, the early diagnosis of a brain tumor, based on an alteration in the visual field, can modify the patient's prognosis for life.
Pterygium
And he explains to this medium why delaying an ophthalmological check-up in childhood can seriously impact the child's life.
"If the ametropia (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism) are not detected and corrected in time, an '
amblyopia
'
can be generated
, says Bianchi.
"The longer its diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the more difficult it will be to control future sequelae," he insists and remarks that the specialists are prepared to take care of all the necessary biosafety measures.
Checking the teeth
Laura Aletto, a dentist specializing in imaging diagnosis at the Piñero Hospital and the Rossi Diagnostic Center, reviews different causes that led to the absence of patients, both in public and private services.
“The confinement, the lack of transportation, the
home office
work modality
with the little ones without classes.
An
explosive combo for health in general
”, he illustrates and points out that everything impacted on a significant decrease in economic terms, at the level of care in clinics and diagnostic centers.
Stress deepened bruxism and consequently led to interalveolar bone ridge resorptions and gingival retractions.
The appearance of canker sores and cavities was also a common trait that increased in patients
Dental check-ups also fell due to the pandemic.
Aletto belongs to an eminently surgical service where the early diagnosis of diseases in the bucco-maxillo-facial area is essential for a good prognosis in the implementation of treatment.
"From my specialty, and once we returned to a" new reality ", without neglecting the Covid-19 patients who continue to come, we had to rethink the treatments to the starting point of new diagnostic studies. In some cases it was too late," he said. account to Clarín.
“The pandemic has not changed the usual domestic care of teeth.
Good brushing, the lowest possible intake of sugars and regular consultation are the basis of oral health, "says Aletto, who advises against self-diagnosis and self-medication, such as home searches on Google.
Skin control
Cynthya Gonzalez (@newskinargentina) has a degree in kinesiology with a specialty in dermatofunctional and tells Clarín that most of her patients abandoned their daily skin care routines, believing that they were not necessary because of the confinement.
“This is a mistake because it is an organ that requires daily cleaning and hydration.
In addition, they stopped applying sunscreen, without taking into account that the lights of cell phones, computers and televisions also damage the dermis ”, he explains and adds that, even, stress and uncertainty influenced the deterioration of the quality of the skin and from other skin areas such as hair and nails.
"Extreme dehydration, intensification of expression lines (eye contour, forehead and between the eyebrows), increased sensitivity and severe acne breakouts are the conditions that were most noticeable reflected in the skin, after long months of pandemic", Gonzalez synthesizes .
The skin, another of the controls that fell due to the pandemic.
Ana de Pablo (@ dermatologia.austral) is co-director of the Committee of the National Skin Cancer Campaign of the Argentine Society of Dermatology (SAD) and Deputy Head of the Dermatology Service of the Htal Universitario Austral.
It points out that the pathologies that arose during the pandemic are linked to the use of face masks, excessive hand washing and the use of antiseptics without repairing the skin barrier.
Most of the consultations you receive are for dermatitis or hair loss associated with Covid infection.
“Washing should be done with warm soapy water.
It is vital to apply moisturizing hand cream after each rinse or after each application of gel or 70% alcohol ”, he advises and indicates that wearing a mask for long hours can lead to previous acne-type lesions and generate dermatitis.
"Patients with diseases who receive medication (such as immunosuppressants or monoclonal antibodies) that can alter their defenses, suspended their treatments and aggravated their symptoms," he analyzes and affirms that today the sequelae of the delays in the controls of moles or spots are being visualized that could not be done in virtual form.
MG
