AIIMS Releases Home Isolation Guidelines For COVID-19 Patients

COVID-19 home isolation guidelines: Assistant Professor of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Saurabh Mittal, shared home isolation methods that help in unoccupied hospital space and restrain the spread of infection.

Home isolation is prescribed for only those patients having mild disease, in which there are only upper respiratory tract symptoms and face no shortness of breath. However, the decision about whether the infection is mild will be taken by a doctor.

Here are other home isolation guidelines to follow :

• One of the necessary facility is having an attached separated bathroom with the residence of the isolated patient.
• The patient must be given care by a professional supervisor who must have a link with a hospital for the entire duration of home isolation. It is also compulsory that the treating physician should be kept updated regarding worsening symptoms.
• Patients must continue medications for comorbid conditions and should be hydrated and well-rested. Antipyretics shouldn't be consumed without a doctor's prescription.
• Mittal said that Patients should make use of a pulse oximeter to monitor symptoms regularly. At the first alarm of any deterioration of symptoms, the doctor must be reported promptly.
• The identified room which must be attached to a bathroom should also be having cross ventilation. family members, especially the elderly, and should not share personal items with other members and they must stay away from the affected person.
• Patients should use triple-layer medical mask all the time. The masks should be discarded after 8 hours of use and be disinfected with sodium hypochlorite before the discard.
• Surfaces like table-tops and doorknobs should be disinfected with 1 per cent hypochlorite solution or phenyl instead of alcohol-based sanitisers. Food must be provided to the patient in his/her room, making sure that the utensils and dishes used are cleaned with soap and detergent.
• Symptomatic patients are prescribed to perform warm saline gargles twice a day, and practise steam inhalation for a few minutes along with regular consumption of vitamin C and zinc tablets.
• Remdesivir should be taken only after the prescription of a medical professional, and the patient should not attempt to procure or administer it at home. Similar to oral steroids which must be avoided for mild disease.
• Oxygen saturation below 94 per cent is considered abnormal and a doctor must be informed promptly. Moreover, if there is persistent pain in the chest or mental confusion or inability to rise, medical help must be sought immediately.
• Proning is recommended for borderline hypoxic patients to increase oxygen saturation by two to three points to avoid panic or stress.