‘Dropping oxygen-level causes incurable damage to lungs’
   Date :23-Apr-2021

Dropping oxygen level_1&n
 The team of doctors analysing reports of COVID patients.
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
BHILAI,
 
MISCONCEPTIONS and little knowledge are contributing largely to increase in COVID deaths with second wave of pandemic in Durg district. It is learnt to be the outcome of negligence on part of patients and their attendants to delay hospital admission for any reason. The District health department officials appealed all COVID positive persons for ensuring immediate hospital admission if Oxygen level falls below 94. District administration authorities set aside rumours of dearth of oxygen beds stating that there are over 1500 oxygen beds including those at private COVID Centers and they always have considerable number of them vacant for serious patients. After April first week COVID deaths considerably increased in the district and for the first time it was recorded 27 on April 10 being the highest with second wave of pandemic.
 
And, crossing the mark 31 COVID deaths were recorded on April 21. Increasing fatalities in fight against COVID is outcome of delay in hospitalisation of COVID patients in home isolation even though the condition continues to deteriorate. In most such cases it was recorded that the patients’ family members rely on only oxygen aid when proper medication is required in constant medical observation. As per an official nowadays patients with 70 to 80 and in exceptional cases with 60 oxygen level are being rushed to hospital from home isolation and death occurs in most such cases.
 
Dr Rashmi Bhure, I/c Medical Officer, Home Isolation Control Center, Durg informed that falling oxygen level causes irreparable damage to lungs and in any case if it is below 94 the patients must be hospitalised immediately. It requires medication with due course of antibiotics and steroids in round the clock medical observation. Hence, COVID patients with oxygen level below 94 need immediate hospitalisation as a team of doctors analyses medical history and finalise medication. She said that it is coming to fore that if the oxygen level is not at par the attendants opt for arranging aid of oxygen for the patients instead of opting for hospitalisation. It is also noted that sometime COVID patients’ attendant hide true information regarding drop in the saturation and even resort to switching off their mobile phones. In most cases aid of oxygen is not the sole treatment as proper medication is required be it the case of comorbidity or else as the drop in oxygen level causes irreparable damage to lungs.
 
While underlining medical emergency Dr Rashmi Bhure pointed out that in accordance of oxygen level of COVID patients the attending doctors decide oxygen support whether normally, with high concentrator, NIV or ventilator. She also added that hospitalisation in time certainly minimises the chances of death in all cases to great extent. Dr Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure, District Collector, Durg claimed that in accordance of condition every COVID patient is being facilitated with oxygen beds. They have over 1500 oxygen beds at all centers in district cumulatively and they always have sizable number of them vacant. He pointed out that presently on an average they often have 70 oxygen beds available at government institutions alone, Dr Bhure asserted.