The world is currently grappling with an alarming health crisis caused by rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On December 31, 2019, Chinese authorities alerted the World Health Organization of pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, Hubei province, China, with an unknown cause. What started as a mystery disease was named COVID-19 by World Health Organization on February 11, 2020.


The disease has spread so rapidly and to so many countries that the World Health Organization has declared it a pandemic (a term indicating that it has affected a large population, region, country, or continent). As of 19 June 2020, more than 8.8 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 worldwide, with 464,000 deaths and 4.3 million recoveries. This is according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.


As with the rest of the world, Nigeria is currently dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The first official case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was announced on 27 February 2020, when an Italian citizen, who had recently arrived in Lagos from Europe, tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. The second confirmed case of the disease was reported on 9 March 2020 in Ewekoro, Ogun State. He was a Nigerian citizen who had contact with the Italian citizen.

Since then, the virus has spread rapidly within Nigeria, regardless of measures initiated by the state and federal government to combat the virus and return to normalcy. As of 26 June 2020, there were 22,614 confirmed cases, 7,822 recoveries and 549 deaths.


What is COVID-19?


COVID-19 is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by a newly identified coronavirus now known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respirator illnesses, ranging from the common cold to more severe illnesses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and now COVID-19.


Scientists are still learning about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it, SARS-CoV-2. The precise origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains a subject of controversy.


Most experts believe that the virus originated from bats in one of the so-called wet market in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the first COVID-19 cases were reported. The typical Chinese wet market includes the live slaughter of animals and the sale of wildlife. It is believed that at some point, one or more humans acquired the infection from bats, and those infected humans began transmitting infection to other humans.


A different school of thought that is gradually gaining intensity, claims the virus escaped from a high-security virology lab in Wuhan. However both the Chinese government and the World Health Organization have strongly denied the possibility of a laboratory leak.


In the majority of people who develop it, COVID-19 causes a mild respiratory illness similar to influenza. In some individuals, however, it can lead to a severe illness requiring hospitalization and even death.


How is COVID-19 contracted?


SARS-CoV-2 appears to spread easily among people, and more continues to be discovered over time about how it spreads. Research has shown that it spreads from person to person in the following ways:


• Breathing in of infected droplets in the air. Someone who is sick with the virus releases droplets containing the virus into the air when they cough, sneeze or talk. If you are in close contact (within about 3 feet, or 1 meter) with such a person, you stand the risk of catching the virus.
• When you have skin-to-skin contact with infected persons (handshakes, hugs), and then touch your nose or mouth.
• Touching objects contaminated with the virus – like a computer keyboard, utensils, doorknob, spoon – and then touching your mouth or nose


What are the symptoms of COVID-19?


The symptoms of COVID-19 may appear between 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, although most infected people show symptoms around 5 to 6 days. This time between catching the virus and developing symptoms of COVID-19 is called the incubation period.
The way COVID-19 affects people vary from person to person. Some people may have no symptoms, others will have mild symptoms while a few may experience severe illness that may end in death. Research show that 80 percent of people with COVID-19 may have mild symptoms, 13 percent may suffer severe illness while 6 percent may become critical.
According to the World Health Organization, the symptoms of COVID-19 include:


Most common symptoms:


• Fever.
• Dry cough.
• Tiredness


Less common symptoms:


• Aches and pains.
• Sore throat.
• Diarrhoea.
• Conjunctivitis.
• Headache.
• New loss of taste or smell.
• A rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes.
Serious symptoms:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Loss of speech or movement.


How deadly is COVID-19?


Available evidence show that whereas COVID-19 is not a death sentence, the disease, however, can take a deadly turn. While it is difficult to estimate how fatal COVID-19 is, the total number of deaths and the fatality rate (the risk of death among those who are infected) can give us an idea.


With more than 470,000 deaths worldwide so far, the number of fatalities from the new SARS-CoV-2 has overwhelmingly surpassed the death toll of the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, which also originated in China. SARS killed about 800 people worldwide and more than 300 in China alone.


The World Health Organization put the fatality rate of COVID-19 at approximately 3.4 percent. This is higher in older populations – a report covering 44,672 cases put the fatality rate at 8 per cent for those in their 70s and 14.8 per cent for people aged 80 or over. The fatality rate of COVID-19 remains considerably lower than that of SARS, which was 9 percent.


According to the Centre for Disease Control, the following categories of people are at higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19:
• People ages 65 and older. In fact, about 8 out of 10 deaths reported in the United States have been in this age group.
• Those living in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• People of all ages with certain pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, lung disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), cancer and obesity.


What is government doing to combat the virus?


The Nigerian government has taken measures to contain the COVID-19 outbreak and care for those stricken by the new virus. Some of these measures include:


• Mass testing to quickly find each infected person
• Isolation and treatment of positive cases
• Tracing close contacts and placing them under quarantine
• Promoting basic hygiene measures to the public, such as frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizers
• Promoting wearing of face mask and social distancing
• Severe measures such as imposition of lockdown in many states of the federation, banning of inter-state movement, banning of religious gatherings, closure of schools, suspension of all international and domestic commercial airflights into and within Nigeria, etc.


However, these measures put in place face challenges. The COVID-19 surveillance, contact tracing and testing programme is not rigorous enough. Data from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) show that Nigeria, a country of nearly 200 million people, has only managed to carry out about 122,155 tests as at 26 June 2020.


Social distancing is tough while taking public commutes and for people living in crowded cities and slums. The ban on inter-state movement is being violated with the help of some corrupt security personnel. Many Nigerians are sceptical of both the existence of the virus and the efforts of the government.


Consequently, the virus continues to spread rapidly. We are now seeing evidence of community transmission. Nigeria has 22,614 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of 26 June, 2020, a sharp increase from 8344 cases one month ago on 26 May 2020. As in other parts of the world, the actual number of cases is most likely much higher, due to limited testing and the way the virus spreads, with many who may be carrying the virus not showing any symptoms.


Things that may help you survive


Here, we will discuss things you can do that may help you and your loved ones weather-the-storm and pull through the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been described as an unprecedented global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War Two.


It is important to state that currently, there is no cure for COVID-19 and no vaccine is available to prevent the disease. Antibiotics and anti-malaria drugs are not effective against viral infections such as COVID-19. Researchers and scientists all over the world are racing to find possible treatments and effective vaccines.


The current management strategy is directed at prevention and relieving symptoms in those down with the virus. Below are suggested survival strategies that may help you and your loved ones pull through the COVID-19 pandemic under.


Protect yourself


This is your first line of defence against the virus, and as they say, prevention is better than cure. The following are practicable things you can do to protect yourself from catching the virus:


• Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Dry them thoroughly with preferably a disposable paper towel or a clean cloth towel. Drying your hands properly after washing is very important since wet or moist hands can breed germs.
• When facilities for handwashing are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to sanitize your hands as often as possible.
• Social distancing – Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and others. This is important because when someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person has the disease.
• Stay home when it is not absolutely necessary to go out. If you must go out, avoid crowded places where social distancing may be impracticable.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Your hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Make sure you and people around you practice good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands.
• Regularly use a household wipe or spray to disinfect doorknobs, light switches, desks, keyboards, sinks, toilets, cell phones, and other objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
• Wear a facemask/covering whenever you must go out, especially when going to public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. A cloth mask is not meant to protect the wearer from infection, but to slow the spread of the virus.


Take care of yourself


These are suggested ways you can fortify your body system ahead of time to weather the storm in case your first line of defence fails and you happen to contract the virus.


• Eat healthy meals – the World Health Organization calls on everyone to strengthen their immune system by regularly eating a healthy diet. Every day, eat a mix of wholegrains like wheat, maize and rice, legumes like lentils and beans, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables , with some foods from animal sources (e.g. meat, fish, eggs and milk).
• Exercise – Regular physical activity benefits both the body and mind. It can reduce high blood pressure, help manage weight and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and various cancers – all conditions that can increase susceptibility to COVID-19. Regular exercise, whether low intensity (walking, walking a dog, house work) or moderate intensity (brisk walking, jogging, cycling), is beneficial.
• Vitamin D supplements – there are mounting evidence that suggest people with low levels of vitamin D are more susceptible to COVID-19 and are at higher risk of suffering severe illness and death. It is thought that vitamin D boosts the immune system and helps fight off infections. Although the evidence is not yet conclusive, most experts believe there is no harm in adults taking a daily vitamin D supplements of about 10 micrograms (400 IU).
• People with pre-existing diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, etc should endeavour to take their drugs regularly and have regular check with their doctor to ensure good control.


Seek early medical help


If despite your efforts, however, you fall ill with suspected COVID-19, seek early medical help. The first step is to contact your doctor or call your state ministry of health or NCDC phone number. If your doctor suspect you may have COVID-19, then depending on the severity of your illness and availability of
hospital bed space, you may be asked to self-isolate at home or you may be invited to one of the COVID-19 Isolation Centres for treatment.
Talk to your doctor about the following suggested treatments.


Lifestyle and home remedies:


• Rest – this can boost your immunity and help your body concentrate in fighting off the virus.
• Drink fluids – Water, fresh fruit juice, clear broth or warm lemon water are good choices. Fluids keep the body hydrated and is necessary for optimal health.
• Salt water gargle – for people with sore throat, gargling with warm, salty water can make sore throats feel better. Salt water gargle reduces mucus at the back of the throat, thereby soothing the throat and reducing the need to cough.
• Avoid tobacco smoke – cigarette smoking or breathing secondhand smoke may make you more susceptible to catching the virus or suffering severe illness from COVID-19.
• Continue healthy eating


Drug treatment:

• Pain killers – you can take paracetamol tablets to ease fever, body aches and pains. If your pains are moderate or severe, you may add aceclofenac or ibuprofen tablets to the paracetamol for better pain relief. Pain killers should be taken with meals.
• Cough suppressants – Over-the-counter medicines containing the cough suppressant, dextromethorphan, can block the natural cough reflex, and this may help relieve dry cough. A good example is Zedex cough syrup.
• Zinc sulfate – many experts suggest a daily dose of zinc sulfate tablets to help your immune system work better.
• Dexamethasone – based on current research, low dose dexamethasone treatment for about 10 days has been recommended for people with severe COVID-19 illness because it was found to reduce the risk of death in these people. However, in the same research there was no benefit when the drug was given to people with milder illness. Talk to your doctor to see if you could take dexamethasone.
• Antibiotics – people that develop fever and respiratory symptoms (sore throat, cough, difficulty in breathing) may ask their doctor if they could take an antibiotics to fight any secondary bacterial infection. The most commonly used is azithromycin tablets, taken as 500mg stat, then 250mg daily for 4 days.
• Antimalarial drugs – because our environment is endemic for malaria, taking an artemisinin based combination therapy for 3 days is not a bad idea for people with fever and chills.
• Vitamin D supplements – Continue vitamin D supplements (see above)
• Oral rehydration treatment (ORS) – if you have diarrhoea, you can take ORS to replace lost body fluid and minerals.
• Multivitamin capsules – a daily dose of multivitamin capsule will also help your body heal faster


By Dr Ifeanyi Okafor

https://www.yourhealthng.com.ng/2020/07/03/covid-19-things-that-may-help-you-survive/

Cc: Sissy3
Dominique