Health Ministry New Guidelines on Remdesivir Injection

The Health Ministry of India 29 April released a new guideline on home isolation of asymptomatic corona patients.

This guideline will replace the guideline released on 2 July 2020. Guidelines have also been advised regarding Remedicivir injection.

The Health Ministry recommends that corona patients with low or no symptoms do not buy nor administer remdesivir injections.

It was said by the ministry that this medicine should be used only during the treatment in the hospital. Let us know in a systematic way what else has been told in this guideline.

Who would say a corona case with few or no symptoms?

• A patient with no symptoms will be called a patient whose lab test is corona positive but is not showing any symptoms. The level of oxygen in the room air is more than 94 percent.

• Those patients with low symptoms will come under the category of corona patients who have a cold and mild fever. They do not breathe and the oxygen level in the room is more than 94 percent.

When placed in home isolation

• There should be enough space in the house for self isolation and quarantine of the rest of the family members.

• A caring person is always present. The caregiver is in constant contact with the hospital or doctor throughout the isolation period.

• Patients who are more than 60 years of age and have high BP, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung, kidney, liver disease can be put on home isolation only after doctor’s advice.

• Patients with HIV, organ transplant and cancer therapy should not be kept in home isolation. Home isolation will be allowed only after thorough examination by the treating doctor.

• Hydroxychloroquine  should be given to the caregiver of the patient and all those who come in close contact. Consult the doctor treating it for its dosage and protocol.

What should the patient do?

• Patients with low or no symptoms stay away from other family members, especially the elderly and people suffering from other diseases.

• The room where the home isolation is done should be ventilated.

• Patients always wear three layer masks. When the mask is wet or after 8 hours, change the mask.

• When the patient goes to the room, wear the N95 mask. If possible, both the patient and the timber should wear the N95 mask at that time.

• Before throwing the mask, sanitize and throw it with 1% sodium hypochlorite.

• The patient should take complete rest and drink sufficient amount of water.

• Take care of the cleanliness of the hands of patients with isolation at home. Clean hands by rubbing with soap for 40 seconds. Or clean with alcohol sanitizer.

• Patients should not share any of the things they are using.

• The thing that the patient is repeatedly touching, such as a spoon, door handle, etc., clean it with 1% hypochlorite solution.

• The patient must keep oxygen saturation and body temperature with pulse oximeter. If there is any fall in the oxygen level, report it to the doctor immediately.

What to do

• Wearing triple layer medical mask, taking care of the patient, wear N95 mask before going to the patient’s room.

• Do not touch the front of the mask. Wear and change the mask according to the usage guidelines that came with it.

• If the mask has become dirty or wet, change it immediately.

• Avoid touching your face, mouth and nose, keep hands clean with the rule

• Use gloves while taking care of the patient and after that scrub the hands with soap for 40 seconds or clean it with alcohol hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching the clothes and other things of the patient. Do not share cigarettes, utensils or sheets etc.

• Dispose the patient’s use of things like masks, gloves, handkerchiefs, food packets etc. as per rules.

Method of treatment of the patient in home isolation

• The patient is always in touch with the doctor.

• Gargle twice a day with warm water and steam can also be taken.
  Contact a doctor if fever is not under control even after the maximum dose of 650 mg Paracetamol. Naproxen 250 mg can also be taken twice a day if the doctor advises.

• Ivermectin (200mcg / kg) can be taken once a day on an empty stomach for 3 to 5 days.

• If there is a fever for more than 5 days, inhalational budesonide can be given through the inhaler twice a day for 5-7 days.

• The decision to start Remdesivir or any other therapy should be taken by a doctor. Do this by yourself. Nor buy Remedisvir and keep it at home.

• Steroids should not be given in mild symptoms. If symptoms persist even after 7 days, low dose steroids taken by mouth can be given with the advice of a doctor.

When is the need for medical attention?

Patients should constantly monitor their health and immediately seek medical help if any of the below symptoms appear.

• Having trouble breathing.

• The oxygen level on the room air is declining. Level has gone below 94%.

• Constant pain or pressure in the chest.

• There is a feeling of confusion in the mind and feeling difficulty in getting up and sitting.

 

 

When to finish home isolation

Home isolation of non-symptomatic corona patients can end 10 days after symptom onset. Apart from this, if those who are having fever etc, if have not feared for the last 3 days, then home isolation can be done.

There is no need to check after the home isolation is over.

Guidelines have also been given for the health authority of the state and district in this guideline.

According to them, it is the responsibility of the medical authority of the district to keep a constant watch on every case of home isolation. Patients living in home isolation were constantly called and asked about their well being.

Field staff should also keep an eye on the patient’s family members and the people in contact and test them according to protocol.