What helps with mild corona symptoms?
Created: 01/27/2022, 16:46
Nasal spray and other classic cold aids can also help with mild corona symptoms.
© Christin Klose/dpa-tmn
The number of infections is rising and rising.
What if I catch the virus now?
A doctor explains which remedies relieve the symptoms and what else you should pay attention to.
Hamburg – The risk of corona infection from Omikron is higher than ever.
And even if the courses are much more mild compared to earlier virus variants: That does not mean that they are without symptoms.
In addition, those who are infected and isolated at home can develop fears.
What does this cough mean now?
Am I finding it harder to breathe than usual?
In addition, the question arises: Do the same remedies help me with symptoms such as a cold, sore throat or fever that I otherwise rely on for a flu-like infection, for example?
General practitioner Martin Scherer knows these questions and the fears of people who become infected with Corona.
The most important tip for the time in isolation at home is to stay calm, says the President of the German Society for General Medicine and Family Medicine.
Light course and warning signals
Scherer gives the following guidance for assessing the symptoms: “A mild course must feel like a cold.
Anything above that, so if you feel really ill, you should see your GP.”
Alternatively, you can call the medical on-call service on 116117 - they can also be reached at night, you can get advice over the phone and a doctor will come by in an emergency.
Scherer cites a feeling of total exhaustion, high fever, persistent coughing and shortness of breath as possible warning signs that should be clarified.
An increased respiratory rate without shortness of breath can also be a possible alarm signal.
A normal breathing rate for healthy adults is around 12-16 breaths per minute.
What means help
But what helps against mild symptoms?
In fact, the home remedies for a runny nose, sore throat or fatigue are not corona-specific, says Scherer.
You could say that what otherwise relieves also relieves here.
Active ingredients such as ibuprofen or paracetamol help against fever and pain.
Corona does not determine the selection here, but the question of whether you have certain allergies or previous illnesses.
"Anyone who has a diseased kidney, for example, should rather resort to paracetamol," says Scherer.
If the nose is blocked, the specialist advises the classic nasal spray.
If you have a sore throat, you can use lozenges.
Even with Corona, there is nothing to be said against inhaling, although Scherer generally does not actively recommend it.
But that's just because he thinks other methods, like the nasal spray, are more effective at clearing phlegm.
But if that's good for you, you can inhale.
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The same applies to a bath.
"If you like to take a bath, it can be pleasant for you." Otherwise, the same applies as with flu infections: rest and drink a lot.
The recovery and the time after
But when did you get over it?
"If I've been home for seven or eight days, the symptoms have subsided and a quick test is negative, I can assume that I'm through," says Scherer.
After recovery, there may be uncertainty as to when and to what extent you can exert yourself again.
If the test is negative and you feel fit again, you can slowly start exercising again, says the doctor.
Sometimes the lungs could still feel a bit "occupied".
According to Scherer, this is no reason for concern: "We know from many viral infections that they affect the bronchi for a long time." In addition to a careful start back into training, it is important that you do not train against symptoms.
"If, for example, I start running and can't stop coughing, I shouldn't ignore it." It's better to clarify that.
dpa
It happens that general practitioners do not want to issue a sick note in the case of a symptom-free corona infection and instead refer them to the health department.
From a purely formal point of view, this can also be justified, says Martin Scherer.
“A certificate of incapacity for work is for sick people.
If there are no symptoms, the formalities have not been met.” The ordering of a quarantine by the health department is in turn an official act, doctors cannot make this order – normally.
If the health authorities are overloaded, as is currently the case, doctors could take over this official function and order home isolation, says Scherer.
"You can also certify that."
You can point this out to the family doctor if he doesn’t want to issue a sick leave or isolation order, Scherer continues.
Because it often takes days for the quarantine order to arrive from the health department.
Many cannot and do not want to wait that long in order to avoid problems with their job: Some of them require sick leave or other proof from the first day of absence.
