I’ve spent the last week working on the coronavirus unit of a Boston-area hospital, treating almost exclusively COVID patients. I wanted to share with you 3 observations I’ve made, that you may not have read about or seen on the news.
1.Gastrointestinal symptoms
Away from the respiratory symptoms of dry cough, shortness of breath, and sore throat…GI symptoms are extremely common. Often bad enough to cause dehydration and acute renal failure. Beware of these.
2.Oxygen
Literally every day a hospitalized patient remains on nasal cannula oxygen, is good news. If you have a loved one in hospital, know this. Each day that passes with them staying only on nasal oxygen, means they are not crashing, and the body is fighting the virus hard. The oxygen requirements should eventually come down. Different hospitals have different protocols, but ours is 6 liters of oxygen before requiring intensive care unit and consideration of intubation and a ventilator. There’s some evidence coming out (and many ICU specialists I’ve spoken to about this), that we may not want to be too aggressive with ventilating COVID patients. Watch this space.
3.Men affected much worse
After now spending a few weeks seeing COVID patients in hospital, it is blatantly obvious to me that this sex discrepancy is independent of comorbidities and lifestyle factors, especially in younger patients. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve called the wife at home to update her on husband’s condition—and she also has coronavirus, but is only suffering with a sore throat!
Whether this is genetics, chromosomes—or we are simply witnessing millions of years of evolutionary biology in action—which will, for obvious reasons, want to favor the survival of females when an animal species is faced with an imminent threat to its survival—we cannot say for sure.
Two other quick things to note: A LOT of patients have got better and we’ve successfully discharged them from hospital, which should be very reassuring to everyone! We have also started giving the Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin combination to almost every hospitalized patient. A 5-day course. Research on this is still pending, jury’s out—but we are giving it a go.
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Thank You Dr. Dhand for all that you do!
Appreciate that Krisi. Suneel
Dear Doctor,
I don’t know you, but I feel as if I know a bit of the person (and soul!) that you are.
I will be thinking of you and hoping for your well-being in every sense. Thank you for going in to serve in the most dangerous place.
With gratitude and deep respect,
Pam
Pam, your kind words mean a lot. Thank you. Suneel
Thankyou Dr Dhand for all the efforts you medical professionals are putting in to save our lives. It takes alot of courage & responsibility that you doctors have shown, risking your own lives being at the front line figting this invisible enemy. My heart swells with so much pride when I read what you doctors are doing for all of us. We will remain indebted to you all medical professionals for remainder of our life. THANKYOU!
Really appreciate your kind words Rohit. Suneel
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and stay healthy and safe.
Thanks Charlyce! Suneel
Thanks Dr suneel for all the important update…
Very informative and reassuring….
Serving mankind is the best service ever….
I salute ur working so tirelessly on frontline and for being so selfless and courageous…
You also please take care…..
Vicky Ludhiana
Vicky, appreciate your kind words. Suneel
Very interesting insight. Thank you for sharing.
Zinc and Vitamin C seem to be a good addition to the Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin. Are you using that as well?
Colleen, we are not routinely using Zinc and Vitamin C, but I have seen some professionals advocating for this. Have you read any research studies on this– if so, pls email me! Suneel
Nice observations. I’m working in the ICU and agree the nasal cannula should be celebrated.
Thanku so much Dr Suneel for this informative update…feels so proud of you for being so courageous nd selfless…and endless efforts being done for the sake of humanity
Well Done my dear brother