A good number of people in the world have now experienced a bout of Covid-19. However, the complications after getting infected and tested positive may vary substantially, owing to the health of the immune system of each person.
Symptoms remain mild and relatively manageable for a lot of people. It has been seen that most of the elderly and people with chronic ailments, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory concerns, etc. have experienced a severe form of covid-19. Thus, it becomes essential to be aware of all the complications that one may face after being infected with the novel coronavirus. From mild to life-threatening complications, this viral infection can take any stage. It is by being aware of how your body is behaving and demanding will help in taking better care and getting rid of the disease as soon as possible.
Read on to know about these complications and what you can do about them after being tested positive in an RT PCR test in Delhi.
Pneumonia
It is a life-threatening illness when the lungs of the body are affected. The coronavirus is known to attack the lungs of the infected person, making it tough to breathe. The air sacs in the lungs get filled with fluids, pus, or cell debris that prevent them to pump oxygen into the bloodstream. It further impacts other organs and makes functioning difficult. Pneumonia is also one of the main reasons for deaths amongst covid patients.
If you or your loved one is tested positive, observe the symptoms keenly. A fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath, along with rapid breathing, heavy sweating, and dizziness, are some early signs of coronavirus-induced pneumonia. You may require to hospitalize the patient and put them on oxygen-providing equipment known as a ventilator for an additional supply of oxygen.
Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF)
It is one of the most common symptoms and the leading cause of death in a patient suffering from covid19. ‘Acute’ means sudden, as the lungs are unable to take carbon dioxide or pump oxygen. A sudden failure in the entire respiration process can be lethal and needs immediate medical intervention. Mostly, it was observed in the elderly and people with comorbidities. Dry cough with chest pain and breathlessness are major symptoms of ARF.
Regular tracking of oxygen levels through pulse oximetry (a small device put on a fingertip) is required. The descending oxygen levels (below 92) are a sign to seek medical help like oxygen therapy, ventilator, etc.
Acute Liver & Kidney Injury
It is yet to be known if the coronavirus directly attacks the liver and kidneys. However, it is seen in many patients who tested positive and gradually diagnosed with liver and kidneys malfunction. Although not a common complication, it can turn out to be serious, it happened. In case of kidney failure, your doctor might put you on dialysis (a blood-filtering machine) until the kidneys heal and get back to functioning properly.
Blood Clots
Around one-third of people infected with covid-19 and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were found to have blood clots. They were mainly found to be in arteries, lungs, or legs. These untimely clots can bring internal bleeding and severely affect the organ to induce organ failure.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
ARDS is a condition where the lungs of a patient infected with covid-19 get severely damaged, and fluid begins to leak from them. As the lungs become incapable of pumping oxygen into the bloodstream, the other organs of the body also get affected, resulting in multiple-organs failure. Severely ill covid-19 patients across the globe were found to be in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. This condition may require the patient to be on ventilators until the lungs fully recover.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Another common complication of covid-19, mostly with patients who were fully recovered after mandatory isolation of 14 days, was severe fatigue, along with mild pain and slow thinking rate. Not only older people, but chronic fatigue syndrome was also observed amongst young and otherwise healthy people. Also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, this severe tiredness increases with physical and mental activities while not diminishing when resting. An increased number of autoantibodies produced by the body to fight pathogens are the main culprits behind CFS. If you’re tested positive for covid-19 and experiencing severe fatigue, it is best to share it with your doctor to be advised of therapeutic strategies that will help remove these autoantibodies.
Most of the people who suffered from covid-19 were fully recovered after 14-16 days of self-isolation while following basic hygiene. Many cases were even asymptomatic with less to no symptoms or disease. It is worth noting that people with severe cases only experienced the above-mentioned complications, and being aware of them is the first step to tackle them.
Fever, dry cough, tiredness, loss of taste and smell, sore throat, and body aches are a few common symptoms of covid-19. If you or someone you are living with has these symptoms, it is wise to get an RT PCR test in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, or anywhere you’re residing.
SpiceHealth is a renowned diagnostic laboratory, leading India’s efforts for massive and affordable testing of Covid-19. With a team of 200+ experts, 14+ labs, collection, and vaccine centres that have tested over 40 Lac samples, the team provides accurate, affordable, and fast testing across the nation. Book SpiceHealth’s RT-PCR test in Delhi for yourself and your loved ones and get the sample collected from the comfort of your home.
