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I have CT severity score of 6/25. What does that mean?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I tested positive for COVID-19 seven days ago. I am having some mild symptoms. I am checking my oxygen levels using a pulse oximeter. I have had a range of 90 to 100% for the past three days. I do not have any difficulty breathing.

I took a computed tomography (CT) chest after six days. I am attaching it. Kindly go through my reports and give your suggestions. What does CO-RADS 6 mean? What does a CT severity score of 6/25 mean? Do I need to take any other precautions?

Currently, I am taking Dolo, Azithromycin, Zinc tablets, and Vitamin C tablets.

Please advise.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I have gone through the attached reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). According to your HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography) of the chest and RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) test results, you have a positive result for COVID-19 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2).

According to your HRCT of the chest, you have bronchopneumonia caused by COVID-19 infections. You are at the initial stage of COVID pneumonia.

CO-RADS (COVID-19 reporting and data system) means definite COVID-19 infections. COVID-19, with a CT severity score of 25, indicates the severity of infection present during your test time. 7/25 or less indicates mild infections, 8/25 or more indicates moderate infections, and 18/25 indicates severe infections.

According to CO-RADS, it means that you are suffering from COVID-19 infections, and 6/25 indicates that your COVID-19 infection is mild. You need symptomatic treatment during COVID-19 infections. You need to take anti-viral medications to reduce viral load, as you have pneumonia due to viral infections. Continue taking medications and take anti-viral medications along with them.

If you suffer from a cough, then you need to take antihistamines. If you have a fever, you need to take antipyretic medications like Acetaminophen or Paracetamol. These types of treatment are called symptomatic treatment.

If your oxygen saturation goes below 92%, then you should get admitted to the hospital for oxygen saturation therapy. Otherwise, you can take treatment at home. Monitor your oxygen saturation level frequently using a pulse oximeter.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Please answer a few of my questions:

  • What are the anti-viral medications to be taken?
  • Do I need to take a CT chest after five days again?
  • What is the average recovery time for mild symptoms?
  • Do I need to stop taking the tablet Azithromycin after starting anti-viral medications?

Please advise.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I suggest you take Favipiravir three tablets thrice daily on day one and then take two tablets twice daily in the morning and night from day 2 to day 10. Repeat HRCT of the chest after five days to see the progression of pneumonia. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with them, and take the medicines with their consent.

The average recovery period is 14 days. Do not stop taking Azithromycin, as it protects you from secondary infections.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

What does 3 3 3 indicate? Does it indicate three tablets in the morning, afternoon, and night on the first day? From the second to the tenth day, I need to take two tablets in the morning and at night.

Please advise.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes, you need to take three tablets in the morning, afternoon, and at night on day one. From the second day to the tenth day, you need to take two tablets in the morning and at night. These are the anti-viral medications taken for COVID-19.

If you have a severe cough or shortness of breath, then I suggest you take tablet Dexamethasone 4 mg twice daily after meals with antiulcerants for ten days. If you do not take Dexamethasone, you can soon suffer from the above-mentioned respiratory complications.

Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with them, and take the medicines with their consent.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I have attached my HRCT of the chest taken today.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Your recent HRCT scan shows a CT severity score of 9/25. It is slightly higher than your previous report of 6/25. Previously, your pneumonia was in the mild stage. Now, your pneumonia status has reached a moderate stage. As mentioned earlier, a CT score of 8/25 or more indicates a moderate type of pneumonia.

After having pneumonia, it can become severe after a few days. But in your case, it is in the lower limit of the moderate stage. It is still under control. Sleeping in an air conditioner can aggravate this condition.

It is best to avoid sleeping in an air-conditioned environment because dry and cool air can irritate your respiratory tract and worsen your pneumonia. COVID-19 is a viral infection. It can cause some complications such as sudden fall of oxygen saturation, exertional dyspnea, low pulse rate, or bradycardia.

As your oxygen saturation remains above 95%, then there is nothing to be worried about. Take a lot of fluids, vitamin C-enriched foods, and citrus fruits to enhance your immune system. Continue taking your present medications. Do not sleep in an air-conditioned environment. Your COVID pneumonia will subside soon.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I will avoid sleeping in an air-conditioned environment and continue taking medications.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

According to your statement, I think that your medications are working and your health condition is good. COVID-19 is peculiar in nature and causes various complications. It can cause fatigue, tiredness, and weakness. It occurs commonly in infected persons.

Your weakness occurs due to COVID-associated complications. It may persist for a few days, weeks, or months. You can take glucose mixed with water regularly. If you do not have diabetes mellitus, glucose mixed with water can give instant energy and increase oxygen levels in the blood.

If you are not affected by Covid-19 infection for the second time, then a sore throat can also occur due to excessive sweating. It can soak up through the throat, causing a sore throat. You can gargle salt mixed with lukewarm water three to four times daily. You can take ginger tea three to four times daily to soothe your throat. Soak up your sweat with dry towels.

Anxiety or stress is a complication of COVID-19 infections. Try to keep yourself free from any type of anxiety or stress. If your oxygen saturation remains above 95%, then there is nothing to be worried about.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I am feeling much better without symptoms. I have a low lingering cough and a mild sore throat. It has been ten days now. I am thinking of stopping my medications. I need your advice. Is it fine to stop taking medications?

It has been 16 days since having an infection. I have taken antiviral and antibacterial medications for the past ten days. Do I need to take a CT chest? My lungs feel normal.

Please advise.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

As it has been ten days of taking medications, you can stop taking them. As 14 days passed, you can repeat the RT-PCR test for COVID-19 infection.

You can also do an HRCT of the chest again. Your mild cough will subside soon with the help of your body's immune system. Take plenty of fruits, nutritious foods, and citrus foods to regain your energy level.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

It has been a month since having a COVID-19 infection. It has been 11 days of stopping medications. I have had a mild cough for ten days. It does not occur during the day, and it occurs at night. I lie flat on the floor, and I do not sleep under the AC.

I am sensitive to smell, and I get a cough with the smell from cooking. So I am using Vicks VapoRub to reduce my cough. I take around three to four numbers during the night. I got blisters on my tongue and mouth due to it. It was bad yesterday.

Today, I took Azithromycin 500 mg, Ibuprofen 400 mg, and Dolo 600. It helps me a lot. I need your advice on the attached image. I do not have any symptoms of black fungus. I am taking vitamin C and zinc supplements along with it. I have a bright center shade on the tongue.

Kindly suggest.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

According to your statement, you noticed a bright pink shade on the center of the tongue. A healthy tongue looks pink, and it remains covered with small nodules known as papillae. Changes seen in the normal appearance of the tongue cause concern.

According to the picture (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity) provided here, a bright pink shade on the center of the tongue can occur due to allergic reactions, inflammation, infection, drugs, vitamin B12 deficiency, inadequate intake of fluid, poor oral hygiene, and blood disease or heart problems. As your bright pink shade on the center of the tongue is fading off, it can occur due to drug reactions and allergies.

Taking Ibuprofen can cause tongue swelling and tongue discoloration. Medications causing discoloration will subside over time after stopping the causative drug. You can take Azithromycin and Dolo. Avoid taking Ibuprofen. For subsiding your night cough, you can take medications such as antihistamines like Fexofenadine and leukotriene receptor antagonists like Montelukast. You can take one tablet Allegra 120 mg at night for ten days and one tablet Singulair 10 mg at night for 15 to 30 days.

Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with them, and take the medicines with their consent.

According to your statement, you do not have any signs or symptoms of black fungus. Do not be worried. You can have allergic problems that are responsible for the night cough.

I hope this helps you.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I am experiencing some mild symptoms of ear discomfort. My left ear hurts a lot when I swallow my saliva. It does not hurt at other times. But still, I have slight discomfort.

I took a piece of clove yesterday to avoid taking medications. It helped me a little bit, but not completely. Can I take Azithromycin 500 mg? If so, how many days are to be taken?

Kindly suggest some medications for my issue.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

According to your statement, you are suffering from ear pain while swallowing. Pain while swallowing saliva can occur due to ear infections. Mostly, it is caused by bacterial or viral infection. They cause swelling, build-up of fluid, or irritation inside the ears, causing pain.

Ear infections can also be initiated by other conditions like cold, flu, sinus infections, or allergies. Ear infections are a common cause of ear pain, but sometimes, they initiate as nose or throat infections.

Ear pain during swallowing can also develop from tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. The exact cause of ear pain has to be ruled out to have proper treatment. If ear pain is caused by bacterial infection, then taking antibiotic ear drops for a week will help to subside your ear infection.

Taking painkillers like Ibuprofen or Naproxen helps a lot. You can also apply Corticosteroid or steroid ear drops to heal inflammation inside the ears. It also subsides the symptoms of inflammation such as swelling, redness, irritation, or pain inside the ears.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed byDr. K. Shobana

Published At June 10, 2021
Reviewed AtApril 22, 2026

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