Covid 19 initially reported in Wuhan, China in dec 2019 and quickly spread to other parts of the world. Till the end of May 2020, this disease became a pandemic and lacs of patients died worldwide. Recently incidences of thrombosis and embolism observed in these patients. However, pathophysiology is not fully understood but hyper inflammatory response, hypoxemia, vascular endothelial cell injury, platelets activation and stasis are thought to be the cause of thrombosis.
Q. What are the organs at risk?
A. Patient can develop thrombosis & embolism of vessels in lungs, lower limbs, gut, heart and brain.
Q. who are the patients at increased risk?
A. If you have severe symptoms (high grade fever even after 5 days, increasing dry cough, extreme fatigue, exertional dyspnoea), high d-dimer, obesity, diabetes, malignancy, prior sedentary life style and immobility or prior episode of thromboembolism.
Q. What should I do?
A. Consult the doctor and follow instructions. Beside this do breathing exercises, pranayama, incentive respirometry, prone position breathing, early mobility, walking, plenty of liquid intake (avoid dehydration) and prophylaxis for thrombosis (if d-dimer is high)