- Disease is most transmissible one day prior and 3 to 4 days after the first symptom.
- For the initial 2-3 days the patient is likely to have high fever because of high replication of the virus. But at this time innate immunity by Macrophages, Neutrophils, etc. starts mounting defense against the attack of the virus.
- The beginning of the second week heralds the worsening of symptoms which is mainly immune-mediated inflammatory process and characterized by high-grade fever and increasing oxygen demand, hypoxia, etc. Unchecked hyper inflammation may lead to COVID cytokine storm syndrome and multi-organ damage.
So, it is of utmost importance to act swiftly on 7 to 10 days by use of anti-inflammatory medications. And most of the current-day medications like corticosteroids, Tocilizumab, convalescent plasma work best when given in time during this phase.
When is an oxygen concentrator needed? And what are its uses?
When blood saturation levels drop below 94%, it could be a sign of respiratory distress. Usually this merits hospitalisation, but due to the surge in COVID-19 cases and oxygen beds in short supply. This device could help those whose saturation levels range between 88 - 92 if they can’t get access to a hospital with a bed. Any lower would require more intensive oxygenation and any higher would mean that an improvement in lung function can obviate the need for such a device.
Also read What does a post-vaccination antibody test tell you about the coronavirus? Is it a good idea to get one done?
What does an oxygen concentrator do?
An oxygen concentrator takes in air and separates the oxygen and delivers it into a person via a nasal cannula. Air is 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen and a concentrator that works by plugging into a source of electricity delivers air that is up to 95% oxygen. In respiratory infections that causes oxygen saturation levels to dip below 90%, having an external device supply pure oxygen eases the burden on the lungs. However in cases of severe respiratory distress, it may be necessary to provide oxygen that is almost 99% pure and an oxygen concentrator is not up to that job.
How does an oxygen concentrator work?
A concentrator consists of a compressor and sieve bed filter. The compressor squeezes atmospheric air and also adjusts the pressure at which is delivered. The sieve bed is made of a material called Zeolite that separates the nitrogen. There are two sieve beds that work to release oxygen into a tank that’s connected to the cannula as well as release the separated nitrogen and form a continuous loop that keeps producing fresh oxygen.
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