Q. Based on my friend's report, kindly guide us further as he tested negative for COVID-19.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for the query. I can understand your concern. The recent HRCT (high resolution computed tomography) of the chest has revealed patchy and sub-segmental ground-glass opacities associated with inter and intralobular septal thickening and architectural distortion distributed in all the lobes of both lungs suggestive of atypical or viral or COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2109) pneumonia. CO-RADS 5 (COVID-19 reporting and data system) and CT severity score 15 out of 25 and 55% to 60% lung involvement. CO-RADS 5 indicates highly suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonia (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity). CT severity score of 15 out of 25 indicates moderate COVID-19 pneumonia, as below 18 out of 25 indicates the moderate type of COVID-19 pneumonia.

According to the HRCT of the chest, he is now suffering from pneumonia may be due to COVID-19 infections though he tested negative for COVID-19. RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test may become false negative in few cases. In 2% to 3% cases, the RT-PCR test may be negative. False-negative test results can occur if the sample was not taken at the right time of infection.

According to WHO's (world health organization) recent guidelines, a patient with COVID-19 symptoms or positive findings on his or her HRCT of the chest despite being negative by RT-PCR test is considered as COVID-19 positive patient and should be treated according to the symptoms of COVID-19 infections. So, he should take some medications according to the present symptoms. As he has pneumonia, most probably due to a COVID-19 infection, he may take antiviral medications to reduce the viral load. He may also take broad-spectrum antibiotics to prevent any secondary infections, Dexamethasone for protecting the lungs from further damage, Levosalbutamol, antihistamines, etc.

Take care. I hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Thanks for joining again. I suggest the following,

• Tablet Fabiflu (Favipiravir) 400 mg three tablets thrice daily on day 1. Two tablets twice daily from day 2 to day 10.
• Tablet Azee (Azithromycin) 500 mg one tablet one at night for ten days.
• Tablet Allegra (Fexofenadine) 120 mg one tablet once at night for ten days.
• Tablet Singulair (Montelukast) 10 mg one tablet once at night for 15 to 30 days.
• Tablet Dexamethasone 4 mg one tablet twice daily after food for ten days.
• Tablet Levolin (Levosalbutamol) 1 mg one tablet twice daily for 15 to 30 days.

Monitor your oxygen saturation level routinely. If oxygen saturation level declines below 90%, he can get himself admitted into the hospital for oxygen inhalation therapy.

In case of any other query, knock me.

Same symptoms doesn’t mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Muhammad Zubayer Alam

Experience: 15 + Yrs

Pulmonology (Asthma Doctors)

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