Managing Coronavirus Symptoms in Kenya ¶
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads globally, doctors in Kenya are working to manage symptoms and provide supportive treatments to patients.
Isolation centres have been set up in government and private hospitals, including Mbagathi Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, and Nakuru General Hospital, to care for those with confirmed infections.
However, with no vaccine available and antibiotics ineffective, doctors are focusing on symptom management.
Common symptoms of coronavirus include fever, shortness of breath, and flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, and fatigue.
Doctors are offering supportive treatments, including:
- Fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration
- Medication to reduce fever, with painkillers like paracetamol being effective in managing symptoms
- Getting plenty of rest, as deficiency of sleep makes it harder for the body to battle the virus
- Supplemental oxygen in more severe cases, with patients being put on respirators if necessary
Efforts to find a cure and vaccine are also underway, with the World Health Organisation announcing a large global trial to find out if certain known drugs can treat infections with the coronavirus.
One promising treatment plan is the use of anti-viral drug Favilavir, which has reportedly shown efficacy in treating the disease with minimal side-effects in a clinical trial involving 70 patients in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
