Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi following a chest infection due to COVID-19.
After Rawat tested positive for COVID-19 on December 18, he developed pneumonia while he was in home isolation in Dehradun. He was admitted to Delhi after his condition worsened, according to reports of a news agency.
A team of doctors led by the AIIMS director is checking on Rawat’s health at the hospital’s trauma centre.
Earlier on Sunday, Rawat complained of fever and was admitted to a hospital in Dehradun. The doctors then revealed that Rawat has developed an infection in the chest. Later, on Monday, the CM was flown to Delhi after consulting doctors at the AIIMS.
Pneumonia is a potential complication of COVID-19 infection. It is caused due to irritation in the air sacs, known as alveoli, present inside the lungs. This can lead to fluid buildup inside the cavity and results in conditions like fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, chest pain, etc.
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Connection between COVID-19 And Pneumonia
When respiratory droplets that contain the SARS-CoV-2 enter your upper respiratory tract and the virus increases, the infection can progress to your lungs. The infection can damage the alveoli and surrounding tissues, leading to inflammation and buildup of fluid and dead cells in your lungs.
In some cases, COVID pneumonia can grow to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a progressive type of respiratory failure that occurs when the air sacs in the lungs fill up with fluid. Though people with ARDS may need mechanical ventilation to breathe
Doctors suggest that patients who are isolating at home should watch out for the following signs:
- Dip in oxygen saturation, or hypoxia
- Breathing difficulties and frequent chest pain.
- A constantly plateauing fever (above 99 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Loss of appetite
Researchers have suggested that computed tomography (CT) can be used as an important complement for the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia
Severe COVID-19 and associated complications like pneumonia can affect any person.
However, some people are more vulnerable to the conditions than others. These include those who have a history of cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, asthma or breathing problems, and adults over the age of 55.