India is currently facing the third wave with the surge in Omicron cases. It's been more than 2 years since the world detected the first Covid-19 case, and no one can figure out when it is going to end. The third wave is of a highly transmissible Covid-19 variant i.e. Omicron. Every day, the cases are driving up, breaking the previous records of cases detected in a day.
Hospitals and care centers are crammed with patients who are in immediate need of medical attention. Some hospitals are provided with limited resources and might get overwhelmed with the ascending COVID cases. People are again put up in a tight corner with anxiety and uncertainty. They might feel baffled as to where to start and what to understand with this new variant.
But not to worry, here are some topics to get a brief idea about observing and managing the Omicron at home.
What are the symptoms of omicron?
Even though the omicron variant is the one with mild symptoms, one should not take it lightly. It is highly transmissible and can turn out to be lethal for people having existing medical conditions.
The precise symptoms of the omicron variant are still indecisive to some extent. Cold, cough, fever, and body pain are the most common symptoms of this variant. Whereas the less common symptoms are skin rashes, diarrhea, or discoloration of fingers or toes.
Having a thermometer and a pulse oximeter handy is a must to monitor the symptoms during the isolation period. Omicron variant symptoms may keep you all jumbled up with its vague nature.
What is the treatment?
Mild symptoms of the Covid-19 variant can be very well treated at home, with the right procedure and medications. Over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used for treating fever and muscle aches. Regular intake of fluids is very important to keep the body hydrated.
In the initial days, cold and cough might put you through congestion which can be quite a discomfort. A steam vaporizer can be superior equipment to have at home for relieving congestion. It provides instant relief from cold and cough.
Older people and people having asthma might feel the need for oxygen, and with hospitals full of patients getting treatment can be tricky. Critical patients under the guidance of their doctor can understand how to use oxygen concentrators at home and avoid emergencies.
What to avoid?
For a person contaminated with Covid-19, it is very important to let your body rest. One should avoid exhausting their body to the point where they face shortness of breath or dizziness. Even if you are asymptomatic, not isolating yourself will put your family and others at risk.
Not having healthy food and medicines properly can also be the reason for health deterioration. To avoid complications you should monitor yourself regularly and seek medical assistance if needed.
Isolating yourself physically might be a good decision but can lead to anxiety and stress by being alone, so it is a good time to catch up with friends and family. Focus on oneself and adopt good habits.
How many days to isolate?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), someone who is tested positive for Covid-19 or any of its variants can stop with the isolation one week after they have tested positive if they do not have any symptoms.
If you still have symptoms after 10 days then it’s best advised to either isolate for the time period advised by your doctor or can get themselves tested for the negative report as post COVID symptoms might take months to go.
To resume back to their normal life among family and friends, you should not take this lightly and still continue to wear masks as you might have dealt with COVID but can be the carrier for them.
How to not panic when isolated?
If you have contracted COVID, the worst thing you can put yourself through is stress and anxiety. Engaging with misinformation on google can rattle you with panic. The isolating period can be a bit challenging if you are used to having a busy schedule.
One should engage their thoughts with self-care techniques or try to calm them down with meditation and peaceful music. It can be the best time to connect with friends and family on whom you didn’t check on because of busy schedules.
Like every other tough time, this too shall pass you should not dwell on it. You should just take it slow, keep positive thoughts in mind and give your body time to recover.