{"id":32533,"date":"2021-09-07T08:11:33","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T04:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/?p=32533"},"modified":"2021-09-07T08:11:33","modified_gmt":"2021-09-07T04:11:33","slug":"covid-can-worsen-quickly-at-home-heres-when-to-call-an-ambulance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/covid-can-worsen-quickly-at-home-heres-when-to-call-an-ambulance\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid can worsen quickly at home. Here\u2019s when to call an ambulance"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If your Covid symptoms worsen suddenly, hospital is the best place for you to be monitored, treated and to recover well<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Most Australians diagnosed with COVID-19 recover at home, rather than in a quarantine facility or hospital. About 10% have required hospital treatment. However, a handful have had worsening symptoms, did not receive emergency care and died at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

There appear to have been two factors behind such COVID deaths at home: worry about the perceived costs and risks of seeking official health care; and the sudden onset of complications from a worsening infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to watch out for when symptoms worsen dramatically at home and when to call an ambulance.<\/span><\/p>\n

What should I look out for?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As a GP I am asked this question often. Patients naturally want guidance on the signs to look out for so they don\u2019t seek help too late or too early. This is called \u201csafety netting\u201d, and is guided by an understanding of the natural history (prognosis) of a disease and its response to treatment. People also seek advice on worrying symptoms to look out for, and specific information on how and when to seek help.<\/span><\/p>\n

With COVID-19, the natural course of the infection varies. What starts out with cold and flu-like symptoms can lead to breathing difficulties within five days. Not all patients get symptoms that warrant hospital care. But of those who do go to hospital, this generally occurs around 4-8 days after symptoms start.<\/span><\/p>\n

We know COVID-19 affects the lungs as well as multiple organs, leading them to fail. This includes complications such as pneumonia, liver or kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, blood clots and nerve damage.<\/span><\/p>\n

This progress to more severe disease happens as the virus triggers release of inflammatory proteins, called cytokines, flooding the bloodstream and attacking organs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some symptoms of these COVID complications include:<\/span><\/p>\n