How to treat the symptoms of fever, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nasal discharge after testing positive for COVID?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mom has fever, cough, and headache and has tested positive for COVID. Since yesterday, she has had diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, and little nasal discharge, but no respiratory difficulty. Currently, she is taking tablet Paracetamol and Tramadol for osteoarthritis. Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Your mother seems to have symptomatic COVID-19 with predominantly GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms. Two important things to be monitored in COVID-19 are SPO2 (oxygen saturation in the blood) which hopefully should be fine as she does not have many respiratory symptoms, and second blood pressure, which may drop in patients with GI involvement, as in her case. Hydration is important with rest, and I suggest the tablet Paracetamol 500 for fever and body aches.

COVID is a self-limited disease and settles in five to seven days. The patient needs rest, monitoring of blood pressure, and SPO2. If possible, I suggest taking medications like the tablet Pantoprazole before breakfast and Ondensteron 4 mg mouth dissolving, which would take care of vomiting. However, please consult a physician, discuss with them and start taking the medications with their consent.

Hope this helps.

Thanks and take care.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Mild respiratory symptoms are expected unless they cause tachypnea (fast breathing) or a drop in SpO2 (oxygen saturation in the blood). If she has diabetes, you can use the tablet Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir). The symptoms are transient and should start resolving after 96 hours. Keep a check on SpO2 and blood pressure. She should be fine in 48 hours, especially if she is vaccinated.

Hope this helps.

Thanks and take care.