14 days post-COVID-19 recovery, my mother still has fever, diarrhea, and low pressure. Please help.

Hi,

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Thank you for the query. I can understand your concern. According to your statement, your mother has been suffering from fever, diarrhea, and low blood pressure or hypotension. She was tested COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) positive. I have gone through her HRCT (high resolution computed tomography) of the chest (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity) and found the ground glass opacities in the right middle lobe and left lower lobe of the lungs, suggestive of COVID-19 pneumonia. According to her drug history, she has taken antiviral medications. But, as she has a history of COVID-19 pneumonia, it is wise for her to take the antiviral medications.

Roughly, a body temperature of greater than or equal to 100°F is considered as fever. But, most medical experts consider a temperature of 100.4°F or 38°C to be a fever. As your mother has been suffering from diarrhea, dehydration would have caused the rise in body temperature. Correction of her dehydration will help reduce her body temperature as well as elevate the blood pressure. So, she can take plenty of fluids and oral rehydration salts or ORS to keep herself hydrated and reduce the body temperature and raise the blood pressure. As 14 days have already been passed, she can repeat RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) for COVID-19 and HRCT of the chest to assess her present COVID-19 infection status. She should take her medications according to her present complications or symptoms as a symptomatic treatment. Take care. In case of any other query, ask me.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Diarrhea may be a complication or consequence of the COVID-19 infection. As this diarrhea is due to a viral infection, it may last longer. Diarrhea is not a disease, and it is the symptom of a disease. As your mother had COVID-19 pneumonia, her diarrhea may be due to pneumonia too. Because in 30 percent of cases of pneumonia, diarrhea may be seen. Due to her raised temperature and diarrhea, fluids and salt loss may happen. Both sweating and fluids loss may cause increased body temperature as a sign of dehydration. So, plenty of fluid intake and ORS may improve her dehydration status and maintain her average body temperature. You have already mentioned that your mother is a hypertensive patient. At present, her low blood pressure may result from dehydration or as a complication of COVID-19. Before giving her antihypertensive medication, her blood pressure should be measured, and then do the needful. You can give her half dose or half antihypertensive tablet. In case of very low blood pressure, she can avoid her antihypertensive medication that day only after measuring her blood pressure. Plenty of fluid intake and ORS may help raise her blood pressure.

Post-COVID-19 psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, or stress are common nowadays. She may need psychotherapy, mental support, motivation, or some antipsychotic medications according to the severity. Ivermectin is an antihelminthic medication and not a viral medicine. For a viral infection like COVID-19 pneumonia, antiviral medication is recommended to reduce the viral load. Your mother may undergo some investigations like stool routine microscopy examination and culture sensitivity test, HRCT of the chest, RT-PCR test, etc., to exclude the causes. Take care. In case of any other query, ask me.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Your mother should have started taking the antiviral medication the day when she was her HRCT of the chest was taken, which shows COVID-19 pneumonia. Now 14 days have passed, and her infection has already subsided. To make it clear, the day she tested positive, she should have taken antiviral medicines for the next ten to fourteen days of her infection. Now there is no antiviral drug role as it is already 14 days, and your mother is free from disease. Her present sufferings or complications may result from COVID-19 associated side effects or consequences that will subside overtime on their own. I have already advised some investigations because a follow-up HRCT of the chest is recommended after 14 days' of COVID-19 pneumonia, similarly an RT- PCR test for confirming the absence of COVID-19 infection. As she is suffering from diarrhea, a stool test will help to ensure the presence of any causative agents that are responsible for her present suffering. Take care. In case of any other query, ask me.