What to do if diagnosed with COVID (Omicron)

Background: We all know the severity of the pandemic and due to the sheer volumes, people are not
able to get timely help and some are clueless what to do. Fear and helplessness is causing unnecessary
panic and further problems. It is our small endeavour to help people in the time of crisis. First part of
this is to help people who are diagnosed with COVID. Second part is about the pandemic in general
and the many doubts and confusion prevailing in the society.

The disease can present in any of the following severities (please note: this is based on clinical
condition and it is not the same as CT severity index):

1. Asymptomatic: you don’t even know that you got the disease. You will not experience any
symptoms. You will come to know if tested as part of contact tracing.
2. Mild disease: Fever or cold lasting for less than 48 hours. Body aches and weakness may
be present for longer periods.
3. Moderate disease: Fever lasting under 4 days.
4. Severe disease: Fever continuing beyond 4 days or drop in oxygen saturation or other
complications.

People in the first two categories, do not require any tests or any specific treatment apart from
Paracetamol or common cold medication. You can take multivitamin supplements if you wish. Please
note that most people with the current variant (Omicron) are getting upper respiratory infection
only and come under the first two categories. For first two category patients, better not to get the
blood tests routinely. Some of thsee tests will be abnormal in any viral infection, will cause
unnecessary anxiety and a follow up test is required to make sure it has come back to normal after
a few days. Most important is to isolate from others for a minimum period of 5 days from the time
of onset of fever. It is important to know the date of onset of first symptom.

The advice given below is for people in the third category.

Buy a pulse oximeter and check oxygen saturation & pulse rate once every 3 hours, 6am to 10pm and
keep a chart. Saturation should be more than 95%. Pulse rate should be less than 100 ideally. Twice a
day, check after 6 minutes walking with normal pace. Watch for any drop in saturation or rise in pulse
rate. Ideal place to put pulse oximeter is the middle finger of right hand. Keep the hand still and check
the numbers after about a minute. Try in different fingers and take the highest value.

Take steam inhalation twice a day. No need to add anything to the water. If you add any herbs or other
material, do not add them for prolonged periods (not more than 5 days). Lie face down as long as
possible. In between lie normally, as well as on both sides. Try to remove any phlegm in the lungs.

Do deep breathing exercises once every hour. Take a slow deep breath, counting 1 to 10 or 12, hold it
for a count of 6 to 12 (as long as you can hold comfortably), and breath out slowly to count 1 to 10 or
12 as per comfort. Do this for 10 to 12 times every hour, again as per comfort. You may get a bit of
cough while doing. Not to worry. If you know pranayama, you can do.

Take easily digestible food, plenty of liquids and make sure you do not get dehydrated. It is important
to look at the overall general condition. Make sure you are producing enough urine, normally one
passes urine every 3 to 4 hours during daytime.
Take the following medicines:
Cap. B-complex vitamins (Becousules) 6am empty stomach for 10 days.
Tab. Vitamin C 500mg (Frutcee - chewable) twice a day 8am/8pm for 10 days.
Vitamin D3 60,000 once only, on empty stomach.

Tab. Paracetamol (Dolo 650) once every 4 hours, as necessary for fever up to a maximum of 6 times
in 24 hours. (Generally better to avoid if temperature is less than 1010F and you are not too
uncomfortable).

Cap. Probiotics (Sporolac) three times a day, in case of loose motions.

Tab. Ondancetron (Emecet) 4mg as necessary for vomiting, up to 3 times a day.

For people with diabetes: Provided food intake is OK, diabetes medicines can be taken. Otherwise,
dose should be reduced. Need to check blood sugar levels twice a day. Any other medicines that you
are taking should be continued. Please consult your doctor if you have any doubts.

I keep telling my patients to have faith that they will get over the illness. Have faith that you will be
fine. Best thing that you can do to yourself is to follow the doctor’s advice and have a strong belief
that you are going to get over the problem. Do not get panicky by what is happening to others and
the news floating around. Negative thoughts certainly do not help you in fighting the disease. Try
to keep yourself as calm as possible.

Get the tests on day 5 after getting fever and again on day 10. CBP, RFT, ESR, D-Dimer, RBS, LDH, CRP,
LFT, Ferritin.

General condition and everyday progress is more important than the tests. If you are having fever and
the RT-PCR is negative, do not be complacent. Get repeat test, especially if the fever is not settling
within 5 days. In the setting of pandemic, all the fevers must be seen as due to COVID.

People with severe disease: fever beyond 4 days or saturation less than 95% (even before 4 days) or
with gross abnormalities in the blood tests require next level of tests and treatment in the form of
oxygen, antivirals, steroids and blood thinners, as necessary. These should be prescribed by a doctor
and beyond the scope of this advice. Please get help from your local doctor.

By far the majority of people affected have mild to moderate disease only, which can be dealt with at
home. If you are unfortunate to get the disease, hope that the above advise is of use to you and that
you will recover at home. This is what I have done myself and recovered from COVID. Take care.

Disclaimer: This document is prepared in good faith to help people who are going through difficult
times, feeling helpless in the wake of COVID pandemic. This is not a replacement for proper medical
advise and guidance. The following should be used depending on your individual health condition. If
you have any allergies or other serious health issues or concerns, please consult your doctor. The
doctors who prepared this document or KIMS Hospitals, cannot be held liable for any problems or
complications that you may get by following this advice.

Prepared by: Dr M B V Prasad, Surgeon, KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad.

Vetted by: Dr V V Ramana Prasad, Pulmonologist, KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad.