The CDC just released the FIRST travel advisory on cruise ships 12 HOURS AGO. That is complete insanity knowing what we know. Travelers were coming in from Italy and South Korea, two of the hardest hit areas, unscreened up until a week ago. There are governors holding press conferences telling people that risk of transmission is low if you are asymptomatic. Either bold face lies or horribly misinformed.
I know nothing, but I have this feeling that Italy may have 100K+ cases. There are just too many people coming back from Italy with the disease to have it be only a few thousand people. I also read something that said Italy has a terrible medical issue. They have a terrible health care worker/population ratio...way too few Doctors for the population caused by decades of the Government under paying Doctors. Additionally, they have an aged population (of course that's the group that gets hit hardest). If you take Italy's population ~60 million...and the number of cases: ~7500 officially. That's around 1.2 people per million...and you are telling me this 1 in a million case load is sending carriers all over the world? I bet Italy has 10x AT LEAST the number of cases. They've even reported that Italy had stopped even testing mild cases (although they may be reversing that).
I haven't been looking at avg age of population by country, but that might be something interesting to look at. I also have been thinking more on SARS from 03 and was wondering, like for patients that did get really sick with covid-19 but made it through, if their lung function is compromised still (so like early cured cases)? Like, if you go back and look at SARS there were some papers published that stated some patients did have some long term ramifications iirc, but I don't recall what the % was. Issues with anxiety/lung function were brought up. Also, while both coronaviruses, I'm not saying this one is as bad as SARS or trying to state some apocalypse sscenario, just more of a thought. I mean viral pneumonia (regardless of virus that lead to it) can sometimes cause scarring in some cases, but if cured most recover fine and it's not permanent, but age can play huge factor too.
Yeah, since cruises can have a lot of older population, and it has lead to the spread of this (community infection etc.), I don't know why the delay. I mean people who are older/underlying health issues should probably be wary of cruises regardless (like when norovirus hits one, it's definitely not a good site), or the flu/other cold virus, but with this being in the mix too, I think more of it has to do with money and probably ignorance on some gov officials. CDC/gov is probably playing it slow too, not wanting to cause panic/hurt business, but the stock market alone and slowing of non-essential business is already very clear.
His doctor probably doesn't want to see him for the flu, to be honest. He should ride it out at home. No reason to go to a doctor when you think you may have the flu.
I know this was discussed some, but do you suffer allergies ever? I've been more cautious due to my seasonal allergies and trying to watch for fever, but fortunately just seems to be allergies for me. Like this virus has picked the worst time with allergies in Texas (especially Austin). But I'd just be more cautious, and watch for other symptoms, as mentioned earlier - the stuffy nose is most likely allergies unless you're running a fever. I've been taking Claritin during the day and if late at night possibly benadryl, it seems to be working. If you haven't been taking allergy med prior and want to get a quick start - you could take something like a Claritin D/Allegra D etc., stupid rules here have to goto pharmacy and bring ID, since they think we're cooking meth but pseudoephedrine definitely works to get quick relief (so any allergy med + d has it, but is behind counter). This is assuming the person can take it, obviously bp can raise but you'll feel better from the stuffy nose. Again, not direct medical advice but some of the things I do, I'll also use flonase for stuffy nose, but have been limiting it a bit if I'm going out due to flu season and this virus (since it's a steroid and lowers your immune system), it works amazing though for allergies. And can be bought without an rx. Regardless if you start coughing though just follow all precautions. I hope you feel better
I'm not surprised it's spreading in Italy like wildfire. In the major cities they squish into public transit buses and trains that are not ventilated at all, and culturally they have this thing where they do not like to open windows on buses (they think open air coming inside the bus will make them sick - ironic eh?). On top of that, hygiene and hand washing is a lot less than what we are used to. Daily showering is not common. Like others I also woke up with a sore throat and a light head, I am pretty sure its just allergies, I dont have any of the other symptoms of concern (fever, cough), and allergy meds have helped. But of course, the virus has hit Houston so I'm just as cautious as anybody else.
btw the WHO just said that the mild form that 80% of the population will get includes pneumonia. 0_0 Had no idea that pneumonia was considered any kind of mild symptom.
****ing allergies are killer in Houston right now. I'm sure there are plenty of Newstonians convinced they have COVID-19.
Both of those pass the blood brain barrier and cause severe side effects like sleepiness. 1st generation antihistamines. Aren't there any second generation widely avaiable over the counter? I say this because for years I prefered to be allergic than take 1st generation antihistamines and be like a zombie. Result was I developed an allergic asthma. But then I discovered 2nd generation that you have no side effect whatsover and I found my health! Now at this time is not good for anyone to leave their allergies unmedicated. Find a good 2nd generation and don't put more pressure in your respiratory and immune system.
I thought that about age as well but then I looked it up on wikipedia.I know not very credible. Median age China is 37.4 and Italy is near the top at 45.5 . And then there is also Japan that takes the cake in old people but even if their government is trying to suppress it for the Olympics they dont have hundreds of deaths. Yeah I also heard it from some people here about the italian healthcare system but how bad can it be? Italy : 4.1 physicians per 1000 people, china has 1.8 Hospital beds per 1000 Italy 3.4 per, China has 4.2 I have no data for the important ICU beds. I am sure they lack ventilators and oxygen that can save lives but it is hard to believe that it will lead to such a major difference in mortality rates. And also now more and more younger italians are in severe condition. Did this also happen in China? The studies I have access to are only of samples of 100 from China and the median age is more than 60 y.o for hospitalisation. The data is simply too little but I suspect something wrong. Call me paranoid. Anyway here we are also old and don't have many ventilators so no matter how I look at it I am fcked. That's my conclusion.
Good Q&A on Medium for y'all. Author will keep updates coming, and it has good links. Having information is good. Panic is dumb. But embrace reality and plan accordingly.
Loratadine (Claritin) is considered second but still passes , to a degree, the blood brain barrier hence the side effects. Zyrtec and Allegra I don't know. Newer second generation like Desloratadine (Aerius) and Blastine (which I now saw hasnt approved in the US) hardly do so no side effects. Anyway as long as you find something that works for you. If what you are using now has side effects please know that there are many other options that do not. There are many and new 2nd generation antihistamines and they are all very cheap.
I woke up with a slight sore throat on Saturday and yesterday + today I've had a runny nose, plus sore throat. I just attributed to developing a cold or seasonal allergies. I'm drinking theraflu just to be on the safe side, but I'm just trying to be cautious that's all. I get that people are freaked out, but try to stay calm and just take care of yourself. If you are really paranoid, as @malakas said, just go get a swab test and get yourself checked out.
