As it warned that Covid-19 is a respiratory virus and most such pathogens escalate during winter calling better hygiene practices, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday issued guidelines for the management of co-infection of the coronavirus with other seasonal epidemic-prone diseases such as dengue, malaria, seasonal influenza (H1N1), etc.
“Given the seasonal pattern of epidemic-prone diseases observed every year in our country, diseases like dengue, malaria, seasonal influenza, leptospirosis, chikungunya, enteric fever, etc. can not only present a diagnostic dilemma but may co-exist in Covid-19 cases. This poses challenges in the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of Covid-19, and may have a bearing on clinical management and patient outcomes,” said the statement.
“The scope of this document is to provide clear guidelines on prevention and treatment of co-infections…” the statement further read.
The document is based on the standards set up by international health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), which say that apart from fever, patients could present other symptoms mimicking Covid-19 making the diagnosis difficult.
A high index of suspicion must be maintained for these epidemic-prone diseases prevalent in a particular geographic region during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Bacterial co-infections must also be suspected in moderate or severe cases of Covid-19 not responding to treatment, said the guidelines.
Despite the possibility of various co-infections, in present times of the pandemic, the approach to diagnosis for Covid-19 essentially remains the same. Testing protocol as per the ministry of health and family welfare and Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines will be followed. However, in addition, further tests for a likely co-infection will also be undertaken, whenever suspected, the ministry guidelines read.
Meanwhile, addressing the media on Tuesday over the COVID-19 situation in the country, VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, said that COVID-19 is a respiratory virus and most such viruses escalate during winter. “We have to be more careful in our hygiene practices as it is a respiratory virus and most respiratory viruses escalate during winter. Behavioural change is necessary, masks are mandatory,” he said.
The three-ply masks and homemade masks are beneficial against preventing the transmission of the virus. N-95 masks are beneficial for health workers working in hospitals while surgical masks are effective in general practice use, VK Paul said.
Amit Khare, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also said that the intensive Jan Andolan campaign for Covid-19 Appropriate Behaviour launched for two months particularly during festival time, October and November, will continue in various forms till March.