Dr. Mikhaila Puran-Xavier

22/03/2020

In an effort to protect yourselves and your families from COVID-19 please follow these steps EVERY time you get home.

My recommended order would be:

1. Other than the door k**b, do not touch anything

2.Take off your shoes and leave them at the door.

3. Leave all the groceries/products that you bought at the entrance.

4. Leave all bags, purses, keys, etc in a box at the entrance.

5. Disinfect your pet's paws if they were out walking with you.

6. Take off all of your clothes and put them in a laundry bag.

7. Shower.

8. Clean your phone and glasses with soap and water.

9. Wash/clean all products that you brought home before storing.

10. Wash your hands again with soap and water.

22/03/2020

Please listen to what this Emergency Physician from Canada has to say.

Bear in mind that our health care system CANNOT handle many patients.

20/03/2020

PLEASE WATCH!!!

You see how crazy that Emergency Room looks? THIS IS WHAT OUR EMERGENCY ROOM IN A PUBLIC HOSPITAL LOOKS LIKE EVERY SINGLE DAY. We are already at capacity, waiting times are already LONG.

WE CANNOT HANDLE AN OUTBREAK LIKE THIS. Our absolute best chance is to PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19!

PLEASE SELF-ISOLATE/QUARANTINE IF YOU DEVELOP FLU SYMPTOMS OR IF YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19!

PLEASE ONLY GO OUT IF IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!

PLEASE LISTEN! PLEASE.

The crisis gripping the town at the centre of the global COVID-19 crisis in Italy has been witnessed by Sky News' Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay. Italy ha...

19/03/2020

Please don't get comfortable because the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is low in our country.

THEY ARE NOT TESTING EVERYONE. This means that more than likely the number is MUCH HIGHER than what the media is telling you. COVID-19 IS VERY CONTAGIOUS! Please understand this!

Also, lots of people aren't reporting their symptoms. How many times you had the flu and did not seek medical attention? So just like how the number of flu cases is inaccurate, the number of COVID-19 cases is as well.

18/03/2020

Please take a listen and feel free to share. WE NEED TO TAKE COVID-19 SERIOUSLY!

17/03/2020

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms (same as flu symptoms) and you have to self-isolate, here's what you need to do:

1. DON'T PANIC

2. STAY HOME

3. Call the Hotline @ 231-1166, 624-2819 or 624-6674. Inform them of your symptoms and they will ask you several questions. Depending on your case, they will decide if they will test you for COVID-19 or ask you to self-isolate for fourteen days without testing.

4. Inform your family and employers/employees

5. Ensure that you have food and water for fourteen days. If you don't, ask family and friends to help you. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HOUSE.

6. DRINK PLENTY FLUIDS. Water, juice, coconut water.

7. Load up on vitamin C.

8. REST. But don't just lay in bed all day. Make sure to move around even if you're isolated in a bedroom.

9. Shower atleast TWICE daily.

10. For pain relief and fever: use panadol/paracetamol/cetamol/acetaminophen/tylenol every 6-8 hours. Do not exceed 3000mg in 24 hours.

11. For cough/congestion: bronchosolvin 10mls every 8 hours.

12. For nausea/vomiting: Gravol 50mg every 8 hours or as needed.

13. If you have diarrhea, DO NOT take any medication to stop the diarrhea. KEEP DRINKING AS MUCH FLUIDS AS YOU CAN. Use Gatorade/oral rehydration salts to replenish electrolytes.

14. If you have a history of asthma: make sure you have a rescue (ventolin) inhaler.

15. You DO NOT NEED TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM UNLESS you are having trouble breathing, or your fever is very high despite meds, or you are dehydrated and not tolerating orally (excessive vomiting and/or diarrhea)

16/03/2020

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

The coronavirus(COVID-19) hotline numbers were CHANGED.

The new numbers are 231-1166, 624-2819 and 624-6674.

Because of limited testing kits, they are only testing high risk individuals. Therefore, ALL PATIENTS with flu-like symptoms are asked to SELF-ISOLATE. Whether you have COVID-19 or not, once you have flu-like symptoms, STAY HOME FOR FOURTEEN DAYS.

Ensure to call the hotline so that you can be covered with a medical. If you have to self-isolate, ensure that you inform all relevant authorities including your employers.

14/03/2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is here. Don't panic but be prepared. While it is very important to take preventative measures, it is equally important to be prepared for the inevitable - that many of us WILL get infected.

If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you may be infected with the COVID-19 virus, it is important not to spread the infection to others while you recover.

Here's what the CDC recommends to minimize the risk of spreading the infection to others in your home and community.

1. STAY HOME EXCEPT TO GET MEDICAL CARE

2. CALL AHEAD BEFORE VISITING YOUR DOCTOR

3. Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home

4. Wear a face mask when you are around others

5. Cover your coughs and sneezes

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in a lined trash can. Immediately wash your hands after.

6. Clean your hands often

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.

If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

6. Don't share personal household items

Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home.

After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

7. Clean all "high-touch" surfaces every day

High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doork**bs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.

Clean and disinfect areas that may have any bodily fluids on them.

MONITOR YOUR SYMPTOMS

Monitor yourself for fever by taking your temperature twice a day and remain alert for worsening of symptoms or difficulty breathing.
Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening or if you have difficulty breathing.

TREATMENT IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF ANY VIRAL INFECTION

Currently there is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19.

While you don't need to stay in bed, you should get plenty of REST.

STAY WELL HYDRATED

Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to reduce fever and ease aches and pains. Be sure to follow directions. If you are taking any combination cold or flu medicine, keep track of all the ingredients and the doses so that you don't overdose. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, kindly contact your doctor before using over the counter medicines.

SELF ISOLATION/ SELF QUARANTINE
While many experts are recommending at least 14 days of self-isolation for those who are infected, the decision to discontinue these measures should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with your doctor and health departments. The decision will be based on the risk of infecting others.

12/03/2020

ANOTHER LONG POST BUT PLEASE READ AND SHARE

As expected, there has been mass hysteria due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Please be responsible with the information that you are sharing. In the age of google, it is very easy and FREE to fact check before sharing.

The COVID-19 virus is new and we still don't know everything about it at this point. BUT we know the following:

1. From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather. Regardless of climate, adopt protective measures if you live in, or travel to an area reporting COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by frequently cleaning your hands. By doing this you eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by then touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.

2. People of ALL AGES can be infected by the new coronavirus. Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

3. Taking a hot bath will NOT prevent you from catching COVID-19. Your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower. Actually, taking a hot bath with extremely hot water can be harmful, as it can burn you.

4. Hand dryers are NOT effective in killing the COVID-19. To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.

5. You CANNOT protect yourself from COVID-19 by swallowing or gargling with bleach, taking acetic acid or steroids, or using essential oils, salt water, ethanol or other substances. In fact, some of these practices may be dangerous.

6. Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.

7. Ordering or buying products shipped from China will NOT make you sick. Researchers are studying the new coronavirus to learn more about how it infects people. As of now, scientists note that most viruses like this one do not stay alive for very long on surfaces, so it is not likely you would get COVID-19 from a package that was in transit for days or weeks. The illness is most likely transmitted by droplets from an infected person’s sneeze or cough, but more information is emerging daily.

8. Lightweight disposable surgical marks will NOT protect you from COVID-19. Because they don’t fit tightly, they may allow tiny infected droplets to get into the nose, mouth or eyes. People with a respiratory illness can wear these masks to lessen their chance of infecting others.
Certain models of professional, tight-fitting respirators (such as the N95) can protect health care workers as they care for infected patients.
Bear in mind that stocking up on masks makes fewer available for sick patients and health care workers who need them.

9. Antibiotics DO NOT work against viruses, only bacteria. The new coronavirus is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment. However, if you are hospitalized for the COVID-19, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.

10. To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus (COVID-19). However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and those with severe illness should receive optimized supportive care. Some specific treatments are under investigation, and will be tested through clinical trials. WHO is helping to accelerate research and development efforts with a range or partners.

12/03/2020

PLEASE READ!

Unfortunately the coronavirus (COVID-19) has reached Guyana's shores.

We only have one confirmed case so far but we don't know how many unconfirmed cases are out there.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Put distance between yourself and other people, atleast 3 feet.

Avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from crowded places.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.

Throw used tissues in the trash.

Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.

If you are sick, you should wear a facemask when you are around other people.

If you suspect that you have coronavirus, and do not require immediate medical attention, PLEASE STAY HOME. There is a hotline that you can contact and a health care professional will come to you. The hotline numbers are 227-4986 ext 215 and 624-3067.

11/03/2020

LONG BUT WORTHWHILE READ

Similarities and differences between corona virus (COVID-19) and the flu

SIMILARITIES:

1. Symptoms

Both cause fever, cough, body aches, fatigue; sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

Can be mild or severe, even fatal in rare cases.

Can result in pneumonia.

2. Transmission

Both can be spread from person to person through droplets in the air from an infected person coughing, sneezing or talking.

A possible difference: COVID-19 might be spread through the airborne route (see details below under Differences).

Flu can be spread by an infected person for several days before their symptoms appear, and COVID-19 is believed to be spread in the same manner, but we don’t yet know for sure.

3. Treatment

Neither virus is treatable with antibiotics, which only work on bacterial infections.

Both may be treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever. Severe cases may require hospitalization and support such as mechanical ventilation.

4. Prevention

Both may be prevented by frequent, thorough hand washing, coughing into the crook of your elbow, staying home when sick and limiting contact with people who are infected.

DIFFERENCES

1. Cause

COVID-19: Caused by one virus, the novel 2019 coronavirus, now called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.

Flu: Caused by any of several different types and strains of influenza viruses.

2. Transmission

While both the flu and COVID-19 may be transmitted in similar ways (see the Similarities section above), there is also a possible difference: COVID-19 might be spread through the airborne route, meaning that tiny droplets remaining in the air could cause disease in others EVEN AFTER THE ILL PERSON IS NO LONGER NEAR.

3. Antiviral Medications

COVID-19: Antiviral medications are currently being tested to see if they can address symptoms.

Flu: Antiviral medications can address symptoms and sometimes shorten the duration of the illness.

4. Vaccine

COVID-19: No vaccine is available at this time, though it is in progress.

Flu: A vaccine is available and effective to prevent some of the most dangerous types or to reduce the severity of the flu.

5. Infections

COVID-19: Approximately 115,997 cases worldwide; 761 cases in the U.S. as of Mar. 10, 2020.

Flu: Estimated 1 billion cases worldwide; 9.3 million to 45 million cases in the U.S. per year.

6. Deaths

COVID-19: Approximately 4,087 deaths reported worldwide; 27 deaths in the U.S., as of Mar. 10, 2020.

Flu: 291,000 to 646,000 deaths worldwide; 12,000 to 61,000 deaths in the U.S. per year.

The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly. Since this disease is caused by a new virus, people do not have immunity to it, and a vaccine may be many months away. Doctors and scientists are working on estimating the mortality rate of COVID-19, but at present, it is thought to be higher than that of most strains of the flu.

06/01/2020

Happy new year!

A new year often signifies a fresh start for many people. For some, this means setting health goals, such as losing weight, following a healthier diet, and starting an exercise routine.

However, more often than not, the health and wellness resolutions chosen are highly restrictive and unsustainable, leading most people to break their resolutions within a few weeks. This is why many people make the same resolutions year after year.

To break that cycle, it’s important to make resolutions that can not only improve health but also be followed for life.

Here are some New Year’s resolutions you can actually keep.

1. Eat healthier. Whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fish, contain a plethora of nutrients that your body needs to function at an optimal level.

2. Sit less and move more. For example, if you have a desk job that requires long periods of sitting, make a resolution to go for a 15-minute walk at lunch or to get up and walk for 5 minutes every hour.

3. Cut back on sweetened beverages.

4. Get more quality sleep. Sleep is an essential part of overall health, and sleep deprivation can lead to serious consequences. For instance, lack of sleep may increase your risk of weight gain, heart disease, and depression.

5. Find a physical activity that you enjoy.

6. Cook more meals at home. Research shows that people who cook more meals at home have better diet quality and less body fat than people who eat more meals on the go.

And last but definitely not least:

7. Take more ‘me time’ and practice self-care . Taking time for yourself is not selfish. In fact, it’s imperative for optimal health and wellbeing. This is especially true for those in caretaker roles, such as parents and healthcare workers.