Nagpur: Experts from Medical Brotherhood Feeling Novel Coronavirus Omicron variant may have been projected as cheaply but there should be no satisfaction, especially in cases of patients with many comorbidity that have immunocompromised conditions and those who are not vaccinated.
With the management protocol equal to it for other variants, experts suggest that among other parameters, check the level of spo2 or oxygen to decline below 94% hold the key to ensure the patient does not slip into the danger zone.
Dr.
Prashant Joshi, Head of the Ministry of Medicine, AIIMS-Nagpur, said that Omicron could not be taken lightly due to high transmission and two to three days.
“This spread quickly at an unprecedented level,” he said.
Dr.
Joshi shows that Omicron has been reported in 77 countries and is responsible for nearly 60% of Covid infections in the UK with anticipated surge in January.
“We also cannot ignore Omicron as light because the number of cases predicted may flood the health system,” said Dr.
Joshi.
In accordance with Dr.
Joshi, the first Omicron patient from City is strictly observed for any symptoms, signs of vital and SPO2 regularly examined, especially after a six-minute walk.
Experts say Omicron can escape immunity because of the vaccine or infection before due to a large number of mutations, especially in a surge protein.
“Even though supporting data is still awaited, it is possible that it might avoid immunity.
If and when cases increase, more data will be available on the variant in the next three to four weeks to predict the virulence,” he added, adding that inhalation steroids (budesonide) Can be given to protect the lungs if there are persistent coughs or fever for more than five days.
“The supply of oxygen must begin for patients who spo2 fell below 94%.
They are given a systematic steroid, low molecular weight heparin and remdesivir.
Tocilizumab can be given to a severe subset of Covid cases in the ICU that requires high flow oxygen,” said Dr.
Joshi.
Prof.
Dr.
Meena Mishra, HOD (Microbiology), AIIMS, said it was too early to predict but variants may not behave the same for different patients.
“The virus may be mild for one person but may behave differently, especially in the case of comorbidity,” he said.
Dr.
Mishra also said that enough data was not available regarding the efficacy of vaccines or inefficitations for Omicron.
“Immune runaway mechanism can result in an ineffective vaccine.
Also, the data on how immunocompromised patients can respond unclear,” said Dr.
Mishra added who suggested not taking this variant lightly.
“Covid’s right behavior and vaccination is the key,” he said.
Dr.
Nitin Shinde’s disease specialist said it could not be omicron can be considered mild because there was no guarantee that the virus would behave in the same way in India as elsewhere.
“There is a fourth wave abroad but we only see two waves so far that should not be forgotten,” he said.
Cannot ignore Omicron as a cause of mild infection: experts
