What are the clinical manifestations of novel coronavirus infection pneumonia?
The main clinical manifestations of the patients are fever and asthenia. The main respiratory symptoms are dry cough, and gradually appeared dyspnea. The severe ones are acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, metabolic acidosis and coagulation dysfunction. Some patients have mild symptoms or no fever at the beginning.
Most of the patients have mild symptoms and have good prognosis. A few of them are critically or even dead.
Does it mean that you are infected if early symptoms appeared? When do you need to see a doctor?
It does not mean that you have been infected if there only appear fever, fatigue and dry cough.
However, if there appear acute respiratory infection symptoms such as fever (axillary temperature ≥ 37.3℃), cough, shortness of breath, and even have a history of travelling or residence in Wuhan, or who have been exposed to anybody from Wuhan who has fevers with respiratory symptoms within 14 days, or the symptoms occur on multiple people in a community, they should go to the local designated medical institutions for screening, diagnosis and treatment.
What should you pay attention to when you go to the hospital?
When you go to see a doctor, you should tell your condition and the history in detail. In particular, you should tell the doctor about your recent travel and living history in Wuhan, the contact history of pneumonia patients or suspected patients, the contact history of animals, etc. You should wear surgical masks to protect yourself and others throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.
Those who have one of the following ways of contact with either the suspected or the confirmed patient are close contacts:
a) Those who live, study, work or have other close contact with the patient;
b) Medical staff, family members or other personnel who have similar close contact with the patient without taking effective protective measures;
c) Other patients and their caregivers in the same ward;
d) Those who take the same vehicle with the patient and have close contact with the patient;
e) Those who are investigated and evaluated to be qualified by the on-site investigators.
Why do close contacts need medical observation for 14 days?
At present, it is necessary to take more strict medical observation and other preventive public health measures for close contacts, which is also a responsible attitude towards public health and safety, and a common practice internationally. Referring to the incubation period of other diseases caused by coronavirus, relevant information of this new type of coronavirus case and current prevention and control practice, the medical observation period of close contacts is set as 14 days, and the close contacts need to receive home-based medical observation.
If you have been to Wuhan recently, what should you pay attention to when you return to your place of residence? If you have clinical symptoms, do you need to do pneumonia related tests for novel coronavirus infection?
After you return to your residence, you should take more steps for your physical protection and pay attention to your physical status within 2 weeks. If you receive the notice from the disease control department, you need to receive home-based medical observation. Don't panic, and don't go to work, and don't go out if you can prevent it, and do a good job of self-observation of physical condition, and receive regular follow-up visits from community doctors. In case of fever (axillary temperature ≥ 37.3℃), cough, shortness of breath and other early clinical symptoms of acute respiratory tract infection, please go to the local designated medical institution in time for screening, treatment and diagnosis.
How to prevent pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus?
a) Keep your hands clean. Wash hands with running water or hand gel with alcohol before eating, and after coughing, defecating and contacting or handling animal excreta.
b) Make sure there’s fresh air in the room. Avoid going to closed, airtight public places and places where people are concentrated. Wear masks if necessary. When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow to prevent the spread of droplets.
c) When you go to hospital or accompany the patient to see a doctor, you must wear a suitable mask.
d) Keep good and safe eating habits. The cutting board and cutting tools for processing raw food and cooked food should be separated. Meat and eggs should be cooked thoroughly.
e) Try to avoid contacting with wild or cultured animals without protection.
Emotional management during novel coronavirus pneumonia
Novel coronavirus pneumonia is a new disease. It is normal that people are afraid and anxious about it. However, anxiety is not good to health, so we should deal with it properly. Here are some suggestions on how to deal with anxiety during novel coronavirus pneumonia:
a) Face it rationally - take the preventive measures recommended by the government to ensure your health and control the spread of the disease.
b) Take good care of ourselves - maintain a balanced diet, exercise, rest and arrange time for physical and mental relaxation.
c) Work and rest as usual - avoid unnecessary changes; maintain normal work and life.
d) Don't be trapped - don't forget to have proper relax at the same time while paying attention to the news and development of pneumonia.
e) Be prepared - consult with family and colleagues to make contingency plans.
f) Keep in touch – keep in touch with families and friends, and regularly share feelings and opinions by phone or email.
g) Ask for help - if the above measures are not helpful to deal with anxiety, please ask for help from a professional.
We need fully support those who are at high risk of infecting novel coronavirus pneumonia or those affected by novel coronavirus pneumonia. We should be considerate for them, care and accept them, support them to complete the treatment smoothly and recover as soon as possible. Discrimination is not conducive to the elimination of novel coronavirus pneumonia. We should fully understand the disease, have a good attitude, and take strict preventive measures.Resources: Shanghai Municipal Health Commission、National Health Commission of P.R.C.、World Health Organization