While issuing guidelines for post-Covid-19 care for patients recovering from the deadly virus, Odisha Government has said a holistic approach is required for follow up care and well-being of all Post-COVID-19 recovering patients.
Issuing Advisory, ACS Health and Family Welfare, Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said that the patients are to continue with COVID-19 appropriate behavior like wearing masks, hand washing, maintaining respiratory hygiene and physical distancing.
They have been asked for drinking adequate amount of warm water (if not contra-indicated).Take immunity promoting AYUSH medicine. These need to be prescribed by a qualified practitioner of AYUSH.
If health permits, regular household work can be done. Professional work to be resumed in graded manner.Daily practice of Yogasana, Pranayama and meditation, as much as health permits or as prescribed.
Breathing exercises as prescribed by treating physician and daily morning or evening walk at a comfortable pace as toleratedBalanced nutritious diet, preferably easy to digest freshly cooked soft diet and advised with to have adequate sleep and rest.Avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol, advised the patients..
Take regular medications as advised for Covid and also for managing co-morbidities, if any.
State Government has said the Doctor to be always informed about all medicines that the individual is taking (allopathic/AYUSH) so as to avoid prescription interaction.
Self-health monitoring at home – temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar (especially, if diabetic), pulse oximetry etc (if medically advised).If there is persistent dry cough/sore throat, do saline gargles and take steam inhalation.
The addition of herbs/spices for gargling/steam inhalation is advised. Cough medications, should be taken on advice of medical doctor or qualified practitioner of Ayush.They have been advised to look for early warning signs like high grade fever, breathlessness, unexplained chest pain, new onset of confusion, focal weakness.
At community level, the recovered individuals have been advised to share their positive experiences with their friends and relating using social media, community leaders, opinion leaders, religious leaders for creating awareness, dispelling myths and stigma.Taking support of community based self help group, civil society organizations, and qualified professionals for recovery and rehabilitation process has been advised.
Seeking psycho-social support from peers, community health workers, counselor having been advised and if required, seeking mental health support service have been advised.
At Healthcare facility, they have been advised to take up first follow up consultation within 7 days after discharge, preferably at the hospital where he/she underwent treatment.
Therefore, regular follow up at the hospital level should be done at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after the discharge.
During hospital follow up at 4 weeks, the patients shall be assessed physically face to face and follow up chest x ray, if required shall be done.
In hospital follow up at 12 weeks, the discharge patients shall be subjected to chest x ray, pulmonary function test, measurement of oxygen saturation and echo cardiography.
If abnormal chest x ray findings and pulmonary function test results are noted, then high resolution CT Thorax, CT Pulmonary angiography shall be done to detect any evidence of ILD or PVD and if noted should be managed by appropriate health care institution.
During follow up period the status of co-morbidities must be monitored and appropriate steps shall be taken for their management, said the Advisory.
