AFVOA Newsletter 03 of 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 03 / 2020 Page 69 of 167 Even if a person has no symptoms, history of recent travel abroad warrants testing & persons should be quarantined. If one person in a family is affected, his entire family with all immediate contacts must be tested & quarantined. Most important factor is Age > 65 years and Males more affected > than females. 53% of Corona death in patients happened > 60 years of age Patients with Risk factors like history of Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity, Chronic lung disease, Chronic Kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, Cancer patients, Liver disorders, Post-transplant cases have to be isolated and tested. Three Factors determine progress of disease- Age, Comorbidities & viral load. Hence even healthy people if they have heavy viral load likely to suffer the severity of the disease. From the medical community, we all have only one plea to the general population - Let's not take this virus lightly. It caused enough havoc. Let's work together to get rid of it!! MEDICAL DETAILS FOR YOUR REFERENCE WHAT ARE THE TESTS TO CONFIRM DIAGNOSIS? RT-PCR –China published genetic sequencing of RNA of Corona virus. Molecular test (RT- PCR) is the only validated test available. Throat swab -Oropharyngeal swab & Nasal Swab taken with touch time 5 to 10 sec and sent to the lab & virus is identified by RNA sequencing. RT-PCR is accurate only in 70- 80% of cases; false negative in 20% of cases due to faulty swab taken. Virus gives positive result for both Live & Dead viruses . Live virus stays in the body for 8-10 days during when viral transmission is possible; Even after virus is dead, PCR test may be positive but person is not infective. Most important is the CT VALUE (Cycle Threshold) which is the number of cycles required to detect the viral antigen. Lower the CT value more viral load & higher the risk. Value between 17 to 24- high Risk; Value between 24-31 moderate risk; both these categories have to be admitted in the hospital. Value > 31 Low risk , treated by home quarantine under constant observation .RT-PCR can remain positive even for 4-6 weeks .Antigenicity is due to the shell of the virus evoking inflammatory reaction in the host tissues. Serological Antibody Testing (BLOOD TEST) -IgM in early phase & Ig G antibody in late phase is done for serological-surveillance Chest X-Ray - It is confirmatory only in 60% of cases