Question

Covid-19 has brought to the forefront the primary issue facing healthcare, which is the shortage of supplies/personnel. This has created a need to prioritize or triage who should get critical care? How are these decisions being made?

Answer 1

Shortage of supplies and personnel are existing due to new cases.

Triaging can be done based on severity of symptoms ( high grade fever, body ache, headache, respiratory symptoms like dry cough, progressive dyspnoea,cyanosis, decreased urine output, edema, jaundice, nausea, generalized weakness, confusion)

asymptomatic - abscence of symptoms.

Symptomatic with mild ailments- Can be kept on quarentine at home or in specially prepared centres.Symptoms like mild fever, cough without dyspnoea, mild weakness. Can opt for antigen test to confirm COVID-19. Instruct to follow all personal protective measures, safe disposal of waste, body fluids, have adquate food and fluids. If symptoms aggravated inform to health service or seek help from telemedicine.

Symptomatic with moderate level of symptoms. Person with increasing dyspnoea, high grade fever, cough, severe fatigue. Shift to first line centeres where observation facilities and primary care facilities are available. perform COVID test if not done.

Symptomatic with severe form of symptoms with COVID +ve. : Severe dyspnoea, refractory hypoxia, high grade fevere, confusion, symptoms of ARDS, decreasing urine output. Client shifted to intensive care unit . Aggressive treatment measures are needed with ventilatory support, hydration, renal perfusion and so on. Staff should wear all protective measures. Avoid close contact with client.

Client with COVID positive with life limiting compications:severe respiratory depression, brain stroke, MI, Renal failure, liver failure.client should admit in a intensive care unit where all kind of treatment modalities available.