Coronavirus: What questions do you have?

[cwbullet]

Most of you may know that I am taking a class to help with disaster prep. My expertise is family medicine but I have extensive experience with making plans to isolate pandemics to reduce infections. I am preparing a plan for work based on what I have learned.

I am offering to provide no nonsense answers to any questions you might have. You question will help me answer questions at work so thank you. What questions do you have?

 

[mpitfield]

Why are diabetics statistically more likely to succumb to the standard flu vs a non-diabetic? I am assuming that covid-19 has the same impact.

 

[cwbullet]

Diabetes is because of two factors. Flu and Coronavirus lead to an elevated blood sugar which reduces you bodies response to the infection. Diabetics are prone to heart disease. The infection is a stress on the body and this stress can increase your oxygen needs and demand on the heart.

 

[cwbullet]

What's for dinner?

I had an apple and a slice of pizza. Tired from 10 hours of classes and planning sessions. Tomorrow, we tackle how to beat isolate potential infections. I am teaching that class.

 

[Steven]

Go to your local coffee shop and build a rocket. Sounds like fun times to me.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

Thanks for starting this thread. Your expertise in this area could be helpful to a lot of us.

What advice would you give a business for planning and preparing?

What should employers be telling employees?

What should a person do if they get a fever or coughing or other cold or flu-like symptoms? It could be coronavirus, or it could be a simple cold or flu. Should they immediately call their doctor? Wait awhile? Call a nursline or teledoc? Go to urgent care or ER?

 

[StevenB]

I have to travel for a conference to a city with a very recently confirmed case; what precautions should I be taking?

 

[gna]

What should a person do if they get a fever or coughing or other cold or flu-like symptoms? It could be coronavirus, or it could be a simple cold or flu. Should they immediately call their doctor? Wait awhile? Call a nursline or teledoc? Go to urgent care or ER?

Same questions. I also am traveling this week for a conference, but no cases here AFAIK, but there will be members coming from areas with cases...

 

[Speaknoevil]

I went to a business networking event this evening. Of the 20 or so people I met and talked to, 2 of them said they were not shaking hands. Does not shaking hands protect them from transmitting Covid-19?

BTW, they seemed offended when I asked them if they were infected , ,

 

[Crumb fire]

I would like to know how long before and after the symptoms someone is contagious.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

Well, I could be snarky and ask when the news is going to stop acting like bodies are piling up like cordwood and people dropping like flies in the streets all across the nation - but I appreciate what you are trying to do here. Crumb fire has a good question, the contagion window, so I'll return you to your normal thread. Thanks for injecting some sanity into this.

 

[Speaknoevil]

Well, I could be snarky and ask when the news is going to stop acting like bodies are piling up like cordwood and people dropping like flies in the streets all across the nation - but I appreciate what you are trying to do here. Crumb fire has a good question, the contagion window, so I'll return you to your normal thread. Thanks for injecting some sanity into this.

Although I am a bit worried as I may be infected from my networking event. Cwbullet please, you started this, help with my distress!!!

 

[BF Rockets]

Why are viruses like cold and flu seasonal, and should we expect Cornona virus to be seasonal as well? I.e. will the spread dissipate in the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere?

 

[cwbullet]

Go to your local coffee shop and build a rocket. Sounds like fun times to me.

Funny, I don’t remember asking for your advice.

 

[cwbullet]

Thanks for starting this thread. Your expertise in this area could be helpful to a lot of us.

What advice would you give a business for planning and preparing?

What should employers be telling employees?

What should a person do if they get a fever or coughing or other cold or flu-like symptoms? It could be coronavirus, or it could be a simple cold or flu. Should they immediately call their doctor? Wait awhile? Call a nursline or teledoc? Go to urgent care or ER?

Business should have hand sanitizer for customers and employees. You have to tailor the response to the business. In general, be compassionate with ill employees and suggest they stay home when I'll. I would not
recommend stockpiling supplies.

The first stop for common cold like symptoms is an urgent care center or a primary care manager. If you are severely ill with shortness of breath, the emergency room is the right choice. At our hospital, we set up a telemedicine line for patients. If this is an option for your care plan, I highly recommend it. The biggest recommendation I have for those that are ill is to remain out of public as much as possible.

 

[cwbullet]

I have to travel for a conference to a city with a very recently confirmed case; what precautions should I be taking?

Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer. Avoid public places with large gatherings of people as much as possible.

 

[cwbullet]

I went to a business networking event this evening. Of the 20 or so people I met and talked to, 2 of them said they were not shaking hands. Does not shaking hands protect them from transmitting Covid-19?

BTW, they seemed offended when I asked them if they were infected , ,

That is not bad advice. I have began recommending first or elbow bumps.

 

[cwbullet]

I would like to know how long before and after the symptoms someone is contagious.

The infectious period is very variable. it can range from two days to two weeks before the person shows symptoms and usually ends with the symptoms going away. It has been reported the virus lives on surfaces for up to nine days. This is true with most coronaviruses, but if the surface is exposed to sunlight that is high in UV light, the virus will be killed.

 

[cwbullet]

Well, I could be snarky and ask when the news is going to stop acting like bodies are piling up like cordwood and people dropping like flies in the streets all across the nation - but I appreciate what you are trying to do here. Crumb fire has a good question, the contagion window, so I'll return you to your normal thread. Thanks for injecting some sanity into this.

It is very doubtful. News of coronavirus is selling ads and papers so I doubt you’ll see the i
End of it anytime soon.

 

[cwbullet]

Although I am a bit worried as I may be infected from my networking event. Cwbullet please, you started this, help with my distress!!!

It worried me to travel for this event and I am a doctor. Some anxiety is normal and helps us protect our selves.

 

[cwbullet]

Why are viruses like cold and flu seasonal, and should we expect Cornona virus to be seasonal as well? I.e. will the spread dissipate in the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere?

We really don’t know when the end of the season occur. Some coronaviruses are seasonal and others are not. It depends on their UV Susceptibility. We have wound UV exposure devices to China to cleanse we’re sanitize rooms, they appear effective. This is promising, but we won’t know until the season changes.

 

[PXR5]

Thanks CW for starting this thread!!!
I work as a biomedical tech and my wife is an RN, it bothers us deeply when we hear misinformation.

The news is one thing, but the conspiracy theories are literally raising my BP

 

[jderimig]

I have seen nothing on the internet about risks to people who are on biologic TNF immunesuppresants for RA, Crone's desease and simliar conditions. Is there any official recommendation on whether such patients should suspend their medications?

 

[Sooner Boomer]

I've got a bunch of questions, but I doubt you'll be able to answer them. Mostly statistics. For example, I'd like to see two histograms of the ages of COVID patients and the fatalities, displayed as ages and country of origin. That's one histogram, by ages and country of origin, of those infected. Another one showing deaths.

 

[Terri9630]

Diabetes is because of two factors. Flu and Coronavirus lead to an elevated blood sugar which reduces you bodies response to the infection. Diabetics are prone to heart disease. The infection is a stress on the body and this stress can increase your oxygen needs and demand on the heart.

Would this also apply to people with autonomic disorders? My daughter was diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic syncope and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

 

[cwbullet]

I have seen nothing on the internet about risks to people who are on biologic TNF immunesuppresants for RA, Crone's desease and simliar conditions. Is there any official recommendation on whether such patients should suspend their medications?

Any one on immunosuppressant would be at higher risk. My recommendation to all is to avoid anyone that is ill. I general, it is an increased risk that would go up with age and other comorbid conditions.

 

[cwbullet]

I've got a bunch of questions, but I doubt you'll be able to answer them. Mostly statistics. For example, I'd like to see two histograms of the ages of COVID patients and the fatalities, displayed as ages and country of origin. That's one histogram, by ages and country of origin, of those infected. Another one showing deaths.

You are correct. If you send me the question, I will ask the experts from NIH and CDC.

 

[cwbullet]

Would this also apply to people with autonomic disorders? My daughter was diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic syncope and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

It would depend on the medications you take. If you are on any steroids such as flouronef, you would. The illness itself, I have seen any reports of increased risk.

 

[Terri9630]

It would depend on the medications you take. If you are on any steroids such as flouronef, you would. The illness itself, I have seen any reports of increased risk.

Thank you for the reply. She's on
Zyrtec, Prenatal vit,Sumatriptan 50mg (Imitrex), Midodrine, Nadolol, Indomethacin,
Super b complex, Magnesium &Acarbose.

She's not diabetic but the issues she has affects her blood sugar. Its to low.

 

[mpitfield]

Chuck, what are your thoughts about someone who is a mild to moderate asthmatic, triggered by heavy exercise or viruses, but young healthy.