The main sequel in people who have had Covid-19 has been fatigue, according to Stephanie Rizk, cardiologist and intensivist at InCor and Rede D’Or.
In an interview with CNN, Rizk said other complaints are hair loss and, to a lesser extent, cardiovascular disease. Many patients who have been intubated or had a tracheostomy for a long time also do not have normal lung capacity, which can interfere with carrying out daily activities.
The doctor also evaluated that Brazil has not yet reached the plateau of cases of the Ômicron variant, as the tendency is for an increase in the number of infections, and that the health system is experiencing a collapse.
“Collapse is not patients dying on the street, people not being able to hospitalize. The collapse begins when approximately 80% of ICU beds are occupied, because the health logistics in the country change. Delays elective surgery, chronic disease treatments…. so we are experiencing a meltdown, yes,” she explained.
As I said during the interview, it is also not possible to let our guard down against the coronavirus, because the population “is not fully vaccinated” and there is the emergence of the BA.2 subvariant of Ômicron.
Rizk stressed the importance of vaccination and that it is important to think of a “fourth dose” for the elderly and immunosuppressed, but “more than the fourth dose, we have to encourage the first and second doses”.
With vaccination, hospitalizations and deaths due to Covid-19 have decreased, and it is also important for it to become an endemic disease, according to the doctor.
The cardiologist evaluated that it is possible that Covid will never be eradicated – like the flu – but that, by understanding the dynamics of the virus and effectively vaccinating the population, it will be possible to control it.
Regarding the return to face-to-face classes for children, Rizk recommended parents and guardians to isolate symptomatic children for at least five days – if possible, perform a test that is negative to return to activities. If testing is not available, the ideal is to leave in isolation for 10 days.
For a safe return, she reaffirmed that it is important to immunize minors against Covid-19.
Source: CNN Brasil
