COVID-19

DISEASE GENERAL INFORMATION

Coronavirus Disease or also known as COVID-19 is an infectious disease that has led to a lot of
complications within every country all over the world. To further discuss the specific disease, this disease
attacks the respiratory of every individual who experiences mild to moderate illness but some also
experience severe symptoms of the disease and requires medical attention. Anyone can be infected with
this disease because it can easily manipulate your immune system when it is weak, especially with the
older people or people who have any existing medical conditions that may seriously affect their health.

The virus can easily spread from one another by having close contact with an infected person. An
example of this is when someone without a mask sneezes or coughs, the small particles or droplets of it
can easily infect and spread immediately through the immune system of any individual.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND RISK FACTORS

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines had reported a total of 3,831,941 COVID-19
cases as of August 2022. According to the Department of Health, on August 8-14, 2022, there were
28,008 new cases, or 25.1 instances per 100,000 population, recorded, which is somewhat higher (3.0%)
than the previous report. The following regions had the most cases that week: National Capital Region
with 8,724 cases, Region IV-A: CALABARZON with 5,765 cases, and Region III: Central Luzon with
2,978 cases.

Transmission
The primary mode of transmission of COVID-19 is direct person-to-person. It is assumed to
spread mostly through respiratory droplets—virus is produced in respiratory secretions when an infected
person coughs or sneezes and can infect another person if inhaled.

Environmental Contamination
When a susceptible person contacts a contaminated surface infection might happen if a person’s
hands becomes contaminated by such droplets or by encountering contaminated objects and afterwards
touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. However, infected surfaces are not expected to be a major source of
transmission. It is probably a contributing reason for infection in environments with high contamination,
for instance, health care settings.

Risk Factors
The virus can affect people of any age, but the elderly and persons with comorbidities are most
vulnerable. If a person acquires COVID-19, they are more likely to have serious effects if they are older
or have a different health issue. The risk of being seriously ill from COVID-19 increases with age.
Someone in their 50s is more vulnerable than a person in their 40s, etc. People aged 85 and up are most at
risk since older people are more inclined to have long-term health problems including high blood pressure
or diabetes.

DISEASE TRIAD

As you can see with the picture above that shows the triad that consists of external agent, susceptible host,
and environment that brings the host and agent together. The pictures show how COVID-19 invades every
country to spread virus to a lot of people. The disease triad gives the knowledge on how the virus spreads
and easily infect us, and how it goes around continuously.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnostic tests can show if you are currently infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Because COVID-19 symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases, lab tests are necessary to confirm
a COVID-19 diagnosis. To test for covid-19, a health care provider will take a sample from your nose, or
also known as nasopharyngeal swab, or throat or also known as throat swab through saliva.

For some COVID-19 diagnostic tests, you go to a testing site to have your sample collected and for
others you can collect your own sample at home using a home collection kit and mail it to a
laboratory for testing. Other tests can be performed completely at home, giving you results within
minutes, without needing to send your sample to a laboratory.
LABORATORY TEST

Antigen Testing
Antigen tests are immunoassays which determine the presence of a particular viral antigen,
indicating that a virus is currently present. Furthermore, nasopharyngeal, nasal swab, or saliva specimens
inserted directly into the assay’s extraction buffer or reagent are now approved.

Antibody Test
Data on antigen test performance have aided in the adoption of these tests as screening tests in
asymptomatic persons to determine or rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection.

TREATMENT MEDICAL AND NUTRITIONAL

If you test positive for COVID-19 there are medical treatments available that can reduce your chances
of death and serious illness. There are two types of treatment that the FDA has authorized to treat mild
to moderate COVID-19. These are the following:

● Antiviral Treatments
● Monoclonal Antibodies

Some treatments might have side effects or interact with other medications you are taking. If you are
hospitalized, your healthcare provider might use other types of treatments, depending on how sick you
are. These could include medications to treat the virus, reduce an overactive immune response, or treat
COVID-19 complications. For non-critically ill patients, they should follow a healthy diet and
supplements of some nutrients such as vitamins D and E that can be used to boost their immune
system. For optimal health, it is also important to remember to eat healthily and stay hydrated. WHO
recommends drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages. Limit or avoid alcoholic beverages
for adults and strictly avoid these in young people, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, or for other
health reasons.

3 LEVELS OF PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Primary Prevention
-With the different types of vaccines that are available in the local community (Moderna, Pfizer, sinovac,
Johnson and Johnson, Astrazeneca) is the first step in prevention of this virus COVID-19. Our
Government had been implementing for everyone to be fully vaccinated to reach the goal of herd
immunity.
Secondary Prevention
-When a person has been exposed to COVID 19, Immediately they are quarantined/isolated. This is to
prevent the spread of the said virus. Fever, Chills, Loss of smell, Loss of taste and Dyspnea are the
symptoms that a patient will have. COVID 19 patients may also be diagnosed with severe pneumonia
especially when unvaccinated or elderly patients that have a poor immunity. Unfortunately since this
pandemic started thousands of patients have already died due to severe complications of this COVID 19
virus.

Tertiary Prevention
-After a patient has been discharged from a hospital due to COVID 19 or a patient being cleared from the
said virus. There are still interventions that a patient must go through. Post patients from COVID 19 must
be able to go through free seminars in the local government that discuss management of post COVID 19,
follow up check ups, Rehabilitation (this is due to Quarantine, where patients have mental distress).

-We can control the spread of this COVID 19 by following the protocols that had been implemented
by our government officials. In this way we can protect ourselves, our family but also other people.
For us to reach our goal “Herd Immunity” against this COVID 19.

NURSE RESPONSIBILITIES

During the COVID-19 epidemic, the tasks and responsibilities of nurses are crucial. They will continue to
be at the forefront of patient treatment in hospitals and will be actively engaged in community assessment
and surveillance. Nurses must make sure that all patients, even those with infectious conditions, get
individualized, high-quality care.

COVID-19 nurses should focus on keeping an eye on vital signs, keeping breathing working, preventing
hyperthermia, and stopping the spread of the disease.

- Since fever and shortness of breath are two of the most noticeable COVID-19 symptoms, it is
important to keep an eye on the temperature and breathing rate.

- Check the patient's O2 saturation. A normal O2 saturation, as measured by a pulse oximeter,

should be 94 or higher. Patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms may develop hypoxia, where
their O2 saturation drops so low that they need extra oxygen.

- Use the right treatment for hyperthermia, such as lowering the room temperature, taking off extra
clothing and covers, using cooling mattresses, putting cold packs on major blood vessels, starting
or increasing intravenous (IV) fluids as needed, giving antipyretic medications as prescribed, and
getting ready for oxygen therapy in case a fever makes it hard to breathe because the body needs
more oxygen.
 - Maintain respiratory isolation. Isolation rooms must be well-marked and have limited access.
Everyone who goes into a restricted-access room must wear personal protective equipment, like
masks and gowns.

- Enforce strict hand hygiene: to decrease or prevent transmission of coronavirus, patients and
everyone entering or exiting the room should wash their hands after coughing.

- Inform the patient and the patient's family about the transmission of COVID-19, the tests used
to identify the condition, the disease's progression, probable consequences, and how to protect
oneself and one's family against coronavirus.

The main job of nurse leaders will be to make sure that the necessary safety and prevention measures
are taken to reduce risks in the workplace. In this way, it is very important that hospitals have enough
masks, gloves, goggles, gowns, hand antiseptics, soap and water, and cleaning supplies for employees
who are taking care of COVID-19 patients who are suspected or confirmed to have the disease.
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