How is omicron different from other variants?
This is what we know 2:50
(CNN Spanish) -
In recent weeks we have read and heard about the increase in covid-19 cases driven by the spread of the omicron variant.
In this episode, Dr. Elmer Huerta advises you on how to treat symptoms at home if you contract the disease and what to do if symptoms become complicated.
You can listen to this episode on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform, or read the transcript below.
Hello, I am Dr. Elmer Huerta and this is your dose of information on the new coronavirus.
Information that we hope will be useful to take care of your health and that of your family.
Given the explosive increase in covid-19 cases throughout the region caused by the omicron variant, today we will see how we should act when an infection is suspected.
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How do I know if I have covid-19?
First of all, let us remember that there are two situations that cause alarm in the person and that require action.
The first is that of the person who receives a notification from a friend or relative who tells them that they have tested positive for covid-19 and alerts them to take the test to find out if they are also infected.
This is the asymptomatic person, who needs clear guidelines on what to do.
The second situation is that of a person who wakes up with symptoms, a headache and a sore throat, nasal congestion, body discomfort and fatigue.
This is the symptomatic person, who suspects they have been infected and also needs clear guidelines on what to do.
Today we will examine both situations.
To be tested or not for covid-19?
The medical keys 2:05
Diagnosis of coronavirus in an asymptomatic person
Let's start with the asymptomatic person who suspects they have been infected.
The first thing this asymptomatic person should do - while looking for a confirmatory test - is to assume that they are infected, start wearing a mask indoors, isolate themselves in their room, and alert the family.
The next thing - depending on the availability of diagnostic tests for COVID-19 in your region - is to choose the type of test to do.
For that, let's briefly review what types of tests exist to diagnose an infection.
Tests to diagnose covid-19
There are two types of tests to find out if the person is infected, that is, to know if the virus is present in the respiratory tract:
PCR or molecular
And rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), the most common type of which is the antigen test.
Both tests have their advantages and disadvantages.
The PCR test, which is the gold standard because it is the most sensitive to detect the virus, requires sophisticated personnel and technology, is not widely available, is more expensive, and takes several hours to process, so your result can take one or more days.
For its part, the antigen test, also called rapid test, is much cheaper and, as its name implies, gives a very fast result, being able - like the home urine pregnancy test - to give results in 15 minutes.
The big problem is that no test is 100% perfect.
Remember that diagnostic tests are evaluated for their sensitivity, or ability to correctly identify positive cases in groups of infected people, and their specificity, or their ability to correctly identify negative cases in people who do not have the infection.
What is the difference between the two tests?
The sensitivity of the PCR test is around 95% for outpatient non-hospital infected people, that is to say that in 5% of cases the test is negative, when in reality the person is infected, that is called a false negative.
For its part, in less than 1%, the PCR says that a person is infected, when he is not, that is, false positives are very rare.
The sensitivity and specificity of antigen tests is more difficult to study, as they depend on whether or not the person has symptoms.
A British and American study reviews the subject and finds that, when compared with PCR, antigen tests in people without symptoms are not able to detect a high proportion of positive cases, which makes many people who have the virus pass as negative.
That is, in asymptomatic people, antigen tests produce many false negatives.
On the contrary, when people have symptoms, the sensitivity of the antigen tests was very high, as shown by a study by the CDC of the United States, in which it was found that the antigen test was able to detect almost 92% of the true positive cases, which makes only 8% a false negative.
As with the PCR test, in less than 1% the antigen test says that a person is infected, when he is not, that is, false positives are also very rare
These studies show that in people with symptoms, the antigen test is more reliable, while in people without symptoms, the PCR test is preferable.
See here the symptoms of flu, cold and covid 1:39
How to detect covid-19 in a person with symptoms?
Let's now look at the case of a person who wakes up with respiratory symptoms and who suspects he may be developing covid-19.
Like the asymptomatic person, and this time with more reason - while looking for a confirmatory test - you must assume that you are infected, immediately start wearing a mask indoors, isolate yourself in your room, and alert the family.
Regarding the test that the person with symptoms needs to confirm if they have covid-19, they can - as we explained before - choose the antigen test, because due to the higher viral load, there is a much greater possibility that it will be positive.
Obviously, if you have the opportunity, a PCR test is also indicated.
Regarding the severity of the disease that is going to develop, it is important to consider the vaccination status of the patient.
Vaccinated people, especially those who have a booster, are much less prone to complications and their symptoms are milder.
In this regard, the Italian Institute of Health reported that an unvaccinated person is 25.6 times more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit, compared to the person who has the three doses.
So you can treat the symptoms of covid-19 at home
Finally, regarding the management of the disease, and knowing that COVID-19 does not have a specific treatment, over-the-counter medications can be used to manage the symptoms of the disease.
Antibiotics such as azithromycin, or antiparasitics such as ivermectin, have already been shown to have no effect in curing the disease.
Acetaminophen, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen for pain and fever, over-the-counter cough medications, rest, and hydration are the measures that can be taken at home.
Like any case of covid-19, it is important to use the pulse oximeter to monitor the oxygen saturation in the blood, a saturation that must always be more than 95%, and an immediate medical consultation should be sought if the saturation falls below that value.
On some occasions, profuse diarrhea may occur, in which case, oral hydration is essential, and medical help should be sought if dehydration occurs, with symptoms such as profound tiredness, lethargy, or excessive thirst.
In summary, the covid-19 caused by the omicron variant is, for fully vaccinated and boosted people, a relatively mild disease, which can be managed at home.
Therefore, our recommendation to people who have already received their two doses of vaccine is that they receive their booster dose as soon as possible, and that unvaccinated people get vaccinated immediately.
Do you have questions about covid-19?
Send me your questions on Twitter, we will try to answer them in our next episodes.
You can find me at @Drhuerta.
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Thanks for your attention.
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