Dialysis patients give a skip to hospitals for the fear of catching Covid

Bengaluru: With Covid positive cases soaring in Bengaluru and patients flooding of Covid-designated hospitals, it has come to light that dialysis patients are avoiding going to hospitals for the fear of catching the infection.

"Due to the Covid ground situation, many non-Covid patients are suffering too, especially dialysis patients," said Dr Suri Raju V., a urology cnsultant and MD of Regal Hospital.

But to stay away from dialysis is not a good idea, the doctor said. "While it is a fact that a patient on dialysis has a higher risk of Covid infection, they should not avoid dialysis. It is a dangerous decision. There have been instances of patients skipping dialysis due to fear of Covid which led to a more serious life-threating condition for the patients," explained.

He said that many hospitals have ICUs where all critical cases are handled. Some cases who need dialysis in the ICU are finding it difficult to find a slot as most of the ICUs has been converted into Covid wards, resulting in a shortage of ICU dialysis."