Most people who are infected with COVID-19 develop only mild symptoms and can recover at home.
You should start feeling better after about a week.
If your symptoms worsen, you will need to get medical care. It’s also essential that you stay apart from others, including your family, so as not to spread the virus.
Your treatment will mainly consist of rest, drinking enough fluid, and taking pain relievers, when necessary.
Easy Test Hub will help with testing information for your family members, if you suspect that anyone else could be infected.
Treating COVID-19 at Home
There are several things you can do to have a comfortable recovery at home, if you have mild COVID-19 symptoms.
- If you have difficulty breathing, try not to lay flat on your back.
- If you have a cough, try using an anti-congestant chest rub, cough drops, and drinking hot water or hot lemon tea to manage it.
- If you are anxious about being short of breath, try some breathing exercises to deal with your stress.
- Drink fluids regularly to avoid becoming dehydrated. If fever is making you sweat, also drink an electrolyte sports drink.
- Good nutrition will help you recover faster, so try to keep eating, even if you’ve lost your appetite. Choose bland foods that are easy to eat and digest such as broth, plain rice and bananas.
- Try to get at least seven hours of sleep a night.
- You can use over-the-counter pain medication for headaches and body aches.
- If you are congested, use a nasal spray to unblock your nose, and open your sinuses.
Protecting Others While You’re Sick
You also have a responsibility to protect others while you’re ill, and to prevent spreading the virus.
- Stay out of public, unless you need to get medical care.
- Avoid public transport, or using taxis.
- If you have other people living with you, stay in one room and avoid sharing a bathroom, if possible.
- Eat in your room and open the windows in your room to keep the air circulating.
- Avoid shared spaces in your home. Keep a distance of at least six feet from your family members.
- Clean surfaces that are touched often in your bedroom and bathroom, such as doorknobs and light switches, every day.
- Don’t share household items.
- Wear a face mask when you’re near others. Change the mask every day.
- If you can’t wear a face mask, cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away afterwards.
- Wash your hands frequently or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Other Treatment for Mild to Moderate COVID-19
Physicians may also treat you with the following, even if you have mild or moderate symptoms:
- Corticosteroids – Some people who get supplemental oxygen also benefit from a steroid such as dexamethasone. If you’ve been prescribed home oxygen, you need to stay in regular contact with your doctor. It’s also a good idea to get a pulse oximeter to monitor your oxygen levels.
When Are You at Risk of Developing Severe COVID-19?
You’re at greater risk of developing the severe disease in the following cases:
- You’re older than 65 years old.
- You have conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, cancer or HIV.
- You have received an organ transplant.
- You have had an illness that was treated with steroids or immunosuppressive medication.
When Should You Seek Emergency Care?
It can be difficult to know when your symptoms are worsening, and when you should seek emergency care.
You might feel really sick, even if you’re not really in danger of life-threatening illness. Or you may only have mild symptoms, and not realize your oxygen level is at a dangerously low level.
Low oxygen level is one of the serious problems of COVID-19, so it might give you peace of mind if you have a pulse oximeter (plastic clip) at home that you can attach to your finger.
The oximeter checks breathing by measuring the oxygen in your blood. It’s advisable to go to hospital if your reading is consistently lower than 92%.
Your oxygen level might be low in the following cases:
- You can’t catch your breath and you feel like you’re working really hard to breathe
- You have chest pain or a tight chest
- Your skin, lips or nail beds are discolored blue
- You’re disoriented and struggling to stay awake
If these symptoms worsen, call your doctor or ask the people who are taking care of you to do so.
Final Thoughts
If you test positive for COVID-19, it can be scary and overwhelming to think of the potential complications.
It’s reassuring to know that the vast majority of people only have mild to moderate symptoms and can recover at home.
It’s still vital, however, to know the symptoms of severe disease, so that you can know when you or a loved one should seek emergency medical care.