Covid-19: How to monitor your symptoms at home and when to seek help

The most important sign to watch out for is breathlessness

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC. The city has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxfrd-AstraZeneca for use, and officials hope to have half the population vaccinated by late March. AFP

Abu Dhabi has vaccinated at least 60 per cent of teachers and school staff, many during a week-long vaccine drive in late January. Courtesy: Adek

A man receives a dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 at St Paul’s Church in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A vaccine is administered at Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Bareen hospital

Abu Dhabi has vaccinated at least 60 per cent of teachers and school staff, many during a week-long vaccine drive in late January. Courtesy: Adek

Airport personnel unload a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021. AFP

An Emirates Airlines Boeing 777 unloads a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021. The airline is part of the Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which includes also logistics giant DP World. Karim Sahib / AFP

People wait to enter a vaccination centre at Dubai's financial district on January 24, 2021. AFP

People queue for the vaccine near DIFC. The city has approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm and Oxfrd-AstraZeneca for use, and officials hope to have half the population vaccinated by late March. AFP

A teacher gives a thumbs up as he receives the Sinopharm vaccine in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Department of Education and Knowledge

A placard informs the public of the location of a designated Covid-19 vaccination centre in Dubai's financial centre district. AFP 

People in Dubai queue for a vaccine on January 24, 2021. AFP

Knowing when to seek help is crucial to a patient’s chances of making a full recovery from Covid-19.

But there are many symptoms of infection, and about a third of people have none at all.

Others manage to shake it off after suffering little more than a runny nose or heavy cold.

But a significant minority of people suffer a relatively mild illness initially that deteriorates rapidly. Doctors say knowing when to visit the hospital is key.

The National explains the signs to watch out for:

When do symptoms start to deteriorate?

It varies from person to person.

“We have had patients deteriorating within three days or four days,” said Dr Ravi Arora, an internal medicine specialist at NMC Specialty Hospital in Abu Dhabi.

Deterioration is linked to the severity of the virus, the doctor said.

“If someone is able to mount a response, they won’t get many symptoms,” he said.

“But if they are overwhelmed by the viral load, or if they are not able to fight it out, they can deteriorate. That can happen up to 10 or 12 days as well.”

One way to judge how well a person is improving is by monitoring body temperature. If it falls, the person is “well on the road to recovery,” Dr Ravi said.

What signs suggest someone’s condition is getting worse?

The most important symptom is shortness of breath.

If they have any difficulty breathing, they must seek help immediately, Dr Arora said.

At this point, the next two or three days are critical.

“People who are having difficulty breathing might be on the edge. They might recover after a dip or they might further deteriorate,” Dr Arora said.

It is not always clear which one it will be, which is why anyone suffering from shortness of breath should seek urgent care.

“In case there is a deterioration, you can be attended to. The earlier we intervene, the better the outcome,” Dr Arora said.

“If we give them high-flow oxygen they may be able to avoid a ventilator.

What should a person do to monitor their condition at home?

Doctors recommend buying a pulse oximeter.

This small device helps monitor how well oxygen binds to a person’s red blood cells, which flags when someone is suffering from low oxygen.

They are available from pharmacies or popular online shopping outlets.

Once the level drops below 94 per cent, the person must go to hospital.

“Most patients are using a pulse oximeter at home,” said Dr Brijesh Bharadwaj, a specialist in internal medicine at NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park.

“If there is a fall in oxygen saturation, it means their lungs are extensively damaged due to pneumonia.”

Something else to check is the respiratory rate, which is the number of times a person breathes each minute. If it rises to 30, it is time to visit the hospital, even if the oxygen level is 94 or slightly above.

“If you are breathless and have a respiratory rate of 30 and respiratory rate is 94 or 95 per cent, you should go to the hospital,” Dr Bharadwaj said.

Who should one call for help?

The health department in the emirate they live in, such as the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, or Dubai Health Authority.

They will be able to advise where to go next and what steps to take.