Although it may look similar by its symptoms, the COVID-19 It is not the flu or a common cold. In any of its sub-variants, ómicron can complicate the patient and cause serious sequelae, even though the initial discomfort is mild.
The president of the Venezuelan Society of Infectious Diseases (SVI), Manuel Figuera, assured that the virus continues to cause severe health problems, and might have mortality in unvaccinated people in whom the risk of thrombotic, neurological, arrhythmic and cardiovascular diseases is increased.
This was made clear during his participation in the broadcast of The Carabobeño Live on Monday, August 8, in which he insisted that the best option is not to get reinfected because, although for some the symptoms are less severe, for others they have been much stronger. “In COVID-19 we continue to learn every day because it continues to mutate.”
The also infectologist, agreed. “Being reinfected can bring many problems, and the symptoms not only last two or three weeks, but discomfort for up to three months and that can prevent even daily work.”
Patients who come to the specialist’s office often say they feel like they have the flu even though they have a positive test for COVID-19but assured that the flu and the common cold generate mild and self-limited symptoms, unlike the coronavirus that can cause serious or fatal illness.
The confusion arises because the under variants of ómicron that is currently circulating causes symptoms, mainly in the upper respiratory tract, and less towards the lower one. “Now there is less fever… but if the patient has diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, it is very difficult for it to be a cold and the diagnosis must be made.”
The infectious disease pediatrician Roque Aouad, also in The Carabobeño Livesaid that it seems that currently the throat pain It is the most important focus of patient complaints. “But autonomic symptoms can also occur, you can lose consciousness, and have symptoms other than those of infection.”
In childhood, the COVID-19 it is causing a lot of constant dry cough that overwhelms them and makes them vomit. “There are more reinfections, that is why we must highlight the importance of the vaccine in the platform of the prevention of severe diseases, hospitalization, admissions to intensive care and deaths.”
COVID-19 in pregnancy
During pregnancy, the COVID-19 involves greater risks, so vaccination is very necessary. “If you want to protect your child, you have to get vaccinated,” stressed Dr. Bacci. The importance increases due to studies that have been done that indicate that vaccines protect the baby for six months.
Dr. Aouad insisted that pregnant women complete their scheme to minimize risks and recalled that the guidelines in Venezuela indicate that they can be vaccinated as of week 14, although in the world it is stable from the tenth week.
“But at any time during pregnancy you can place the vaccine without adverse effects, and it will give the kids antibodies, as well as through breastfeeding, they can also be vaccinated in that process.”
The vaccine saves lives
The three specialists invited to El Carabobeño En Vivo agreed on the benefits of the vaccines once morest COVID-19. For them, not being vaccinated right now is a bad idea.
Vaccines have been estimated to have saved 20 million lives, while COVID-19 it has caused 15 million deaths, and many of those deceased people had not been vaccinated”, warned Figuera.
The data from the infectious disease pediatrician, Roque Aouad, indicates that in Venezuela 75% of the population has one dose, regarding 50% two, and less than 10% has three doses, for which he called on those who have not yet completed the scheme to do so to avoid major risks.
recommendations
Taking into account that the current reality is very different from that of 2020, when nothing was known regarding COVID-19 and confinement was advocated, and that of 2021 when there were already vaccines but a very aggressive variant such as the delta that caused many contagions and severe complications, the recommendation is clear: do not relax.
“We have to put aside the idea that the pandemic is over… We don’t know if new waves and variants will come, and each person must take their risks,” Bacci said.
For Figuera, it is important that everyone understands that the same treatment does not work for everyone and that practices without scientific evidence should not be applied.
“Los antibiotics they do not work once morest viruses, indicating any does not work once morest COVID, more than 9 5% of cases are viral infection, there are 5% that can be complicated by bacterial infection, but it is a mistake to always send antibiotics… fever, cough, sore throat it is not synonymous with bacterial infection and antibiotics should not be indicated in these cases”.
Aouad insisted on the vaccination in pediatric age. During the vacation plans that are being made, it is important to try to make them outdoors, and always wear a mask if they are going to be very close together and in closed spaces.
“Those kids should already have a couple of vaccines in our country, and the caregivers, observers, and even those responsible for transportation should also have vaccination coverage.”
