Keywords: COVID-19, pneumonia, corona virus, pandemic, Homoeopathy.
Much has been said about COVID-19 since January 2020 and am have been a keen observer . Here am elucidating few points which I realized when was trying to connect the dots.
So, pandemic is a never before seen in our life times phenomenon and maybe difficult to grasp its far reaching effects. The course of an epidemic is defined by a series of key factors, some of which are not clearly comprehended at present for COVID-19. (1)
Exact a century back it occurred that too for two full years from 1918-1920 which wiped off 6 percent of population or between 50 to 100 million people died. And India suffered no less impact with death rates at 6%.
What it means ? Clearly we are in the beginning of such a disaster and god alone can save us. But to see the history in another perspective we are empowered with knowledge which may help us to minimize the effects if god so desires. Hope to reduce the impact with ancillary measures in place or the infection could affect 60% of world population according to report of Lancet. (1) So, serious and sustained efforts is the need of the hour.
Fact Check:
1.It has been noted that first world war with governments taking callous attitude and hiding information was factor in rapid spread of the infectious disease. (2)
2.It is recorded in annals of medical history that there was increased deaths in second wave, from October through December of 1918. A third wave in spring of 1919 was more lethal than the first but less so than the second return of the Influenza. (2)
3.Again high death rate has been attributed to overcrowded military camps, unhealthy environments and poor nutrition sanitation, which suffered during wartime. (2)(3)
4.Even precautionary measures like isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants, and limitations of public gatherings, which were applied unevenly could have been greatly contributory. (3)
5.After DNA analysis of H1N1 virus which was the cause of this pandemic suggested its less of its virulence (undoubtedly it was )but now thought that many of the deaths were due to the development of bacterial pneumonia in lungs which were already weakened by influenza. So to say opportune infections or combined influenza with pneumonia . (3)
Now I try to decode Indian scenario and government’s efforts to minimize or halt the epidemic.
1.For that it has enamored itself with right attitude towards precautions. As soon as news breakout of Wuhan being epicenter of COVID , government started quarantining passengers from affected countries.
2. Precautions are practiced and awareness is created. Hope plans are stay put to contain second or third waves of resurgence.
3. Social distancing has been widely encouraged and prime minister appealed to public to impose self regulations and novel ‘Janta Curfew’ proposed.
4. Planning and execution is in progress for screening at source, quarantine, testing and appropriate treatment carried out on war footing.
5. Most important is to improve immunity of the people and to reduce the infection.
Now fifth point is in the eye of a storm. Skeptics are having varied views ‘ranging from why all the drama, nothing going to be that big an issue’ to ‘not enough measures’, type comments. Those who say no big deal , I cannot say anything world is showing enough proof of what’s deal.
But for those not enough I need to ask; what else can be done? Now this could be contrary to one’s belief’s ,it has been observed that despite much advancement in health care sector not much to boost immunity or to control infections viral or bacterial and its still a uphill task with rise in antibiotic resistance(1)(4). Only a small set of evidence-based non-pharmaceutical interventions are available according to Lancet report.
No don’t jump to conclusions am not a modern medicine basher who has problem with each advancement achieved. I simply want to say if the infection advances to pneumonia stage including homeopathy every system has difficulty in handling it. (5) Measures like self-quarantine, or temperature control at borders, may not be very effective since half of infections are asymptomatic.(4)
Will elaborate on this later.
So now to answer how to achieve health?
- Hygiene
- Dietary changes &
- Supplements
- Removal of disease
- Removal of maintaining cause
- Removal of exciting cause
- Immunity or host response to disease
Hygiene is what achieved by all the rituals of hand washing.
Removal of disease causing or infections agent. That is achieved by antiviral treatment. But in this situation that is also taken with a pinch of salt. Not recommended by experts in terminally ill or with low immunity. Even ibuprofen has been officially banned in list of drugs that can used due to its known to hasten disease process.(6)
It has been noted most severe cases are seen in the early stages of a new disease, as these are the ones who come to light and also as they are associated with deaths. However, it is important to note that present estimate is that about 81% of people with COVID-19 have mild disease, 14% have severe disease, and 6% are critically ill. (1)(4)
Ideally a person should not be infected. If postive for Corona virus then should be quarantined so he would not spread the infection. Then if he has good immunity and young without chronic illness like Diabetes , hypertension or Cardiovascular disorders he will recover. If old or with poor immunity may advance to pneumonia and death may ensue.(6)
But what about those infected but not tested and at large? What to do to tackle this? Increase immunity of the public could be only answer. According to Lancet many factors are unknown in this epidemic.
It is unknown is the whether infectiousness starts before onset of symptoms and peak viraemia seems to be at the end of the incubation period.
Another uncertainty is whether there are a large number of asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 as it seems to be.
It is also uncertain regarding the duration of the infectious period for COVID-19 whether it lasts a beyond speculated time. The effect of seasons on transmission of COVID-19 is unknown. (4)
drrekhasri 