Ms. Minh Trang (32 years old, Go Vap district, Ho Chi Minh City), who is in her 20th week of pregnancy, has been coughing continuously for a week now, her throat is painful, accompanied by a feeling of nasal congestion, nasal congestion, and fatigue. Previously, she had contracted COVID-19 3 times.
This time, pregnant for the first time, hearing the news about COVID-19 returning, afraid that re-infection would affect the fetus, she rushed to the hospital for examination and rapid testing for COVID-19.
The results of the ENT recorded acute nasal congestion, red tonsillitis, common conditions when the weather was hot and sunny with interspersed with rain, the environment was dusty, and she used a refrigerator regularly. The test results showed a negative impact on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and she did not have COVID-19.
Ms. Trang was instructed by her doctor on how to take care of her at home such as clearing her throat with warm salt water, keeping her neck warm, drinking plenty of water, getting enough rest and avoiding self-medication without a prescription.
Similar to Mr. Cao (68 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) who was admitted to the emergency room with a high fever, a lot of cough, a sore throat, a headache, and difficulty breathing. Despite a quick test negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at home, the family is still afraid that he will have a relapse to COVID-19.
My father has a history of high blood pressure, diabetes and was a F0. This time, my father had a high fever, a strong cough, and someone was left, so the whole family panicked, said Mr. Nam, Mr. Caos son.
At the hospital, doctors quickly conducted a clinical examination, prescribed PCR testing, blood testing, chest X-ray, and closely monitored the values of blood vessels, blood pressure, temperature, and SpO2. The results showed that he was negative for SARS-CoV-2.
MSc. Dr. Ho Van Huu, ENT Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that in recent weeks, many people with symptoms of nasal congestion have come to see a doctor, worried because they think they have COVID-19, and are not assured after a quick test for khangents (rapid test) at home. Doctors had to consult and reassure many patients; examination, endoscopy, rapid testing for COVID-19, most of the results were negative, diagnosis of acute sinuses, sore throat, tonsillitis..., prescribed treatment.
According to Dr. Huu, the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19, and common bacterial and viral agents such as rhinovirus, influenza A, inter-bacteriotics, ... causing upper respiratory diseases, all have similar symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, fatigue, ... so it is difficult for patients to distinguish. Upper respiratory infections that are not treated promptly can progress to the lower respiratory tract, causing bronchitis and pneumonia, causing shortness of breath and chest pain, especially in the elderly, with chronic underlying diseases causing respiratory failure.
In addition, during this time, erratic sunshine and rain in Ho Chi Minh City cause respiratory infections to increase, making many patients confused. The changing seasons are a particularly sensitive period for the respiratory system. The difference in temperature day and night, high humidity and closed air conditioning environment cause respiratory mucous membranes to become irritated, creating favorable conditions for viruses and bacteria to develop inflammation of the upper respiratory tract such as sore throat, allergic rhinitis, duodenal inflammation, cold...
