Hyderabad: Patients start to show acute respiratory disorder in 2 days

Hyderabad: The first 41 patients who caught the Coronaviurs (nCOV) in China have shown that it takes only two days for the symptoms to go from breathlessness to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), according to a study published in The Lancet.

“This is too short a time,” stated city doctors who have checked the medical evaluations and conclude that the virus is virulent. Comparison with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus shows that while the 2019-nCOV mimics SARS there are differences in the presentations. According to The Lancet, the patients who came in on January 2 have shown that they had serious, fatal pneumonia, requiring ICU and oxygen therapy as treatment. The mortality rate in the 41 patients was at 15 per cent. The infection is by a large droplet, which means that it has lots of viruses which are shed which coughing or sneezing.

Healthcare workers require N95 respirators and personal protection equipment while treating these patients. The PPE kit is strongly recommended.

The Lancet study stated that the prevention methods was of utmost importance in the healthcare sector as those caring for patients could become infected. Symptoms of fever and respiratory problems have to be closely monitored. Testing of respiratory specimens should be done immediately once a diagnosis is suspected.

Dr Ramana Prasad, a pulmonologist, explained, “The target cells presently are in the lower airway which means that mild symptoms of sore throat, sneezing and rhinorrhoea must not be ignored.”

The transmission through faecal matter and urine is being suspected but it is not clear yet whether it has occurred as stated the scientist in the journal.