Clinical Treatment of Coronavirus with Oxygen Therapy
The World Health Organisation is working closely with chief medical officers and clinicians across the globe to better understand the history, symptoms and treatment for patients with COVID-19, known as Coronavirus. A link between the treatment of the virus and oxygen therapy is beginning to emerge.
Oxygen therapy is a major treatment intervention for patients displaying symptoms of COVID-19. As the virus affects lung condition, oxygen treatment should be made more available to those in need, particularly the more elderly and vulnerable among the population. Mortality rates in those with a pre-existing critical illness has been reported at over 50%, therefore implementation of measures to protect the lungs should be optimised.
The majority of patients currently affected by Coronavirus are adults - among the first 44,000 patients in China with confirmed infection, only 2.1% were below the age of 20. Common symptoms of the virus include fever, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, with general illness being a major warning sign. Approximately 14% of confirmed Coronavirus cases experienced severe symptoms, and 5% became critically ill. Early reports suggest that the severity of Coronavirus increases with age, particularly in those over 60 years of age, and those with pre-existing illnesses.
The clinical care of patients with Coronavirus focuses on early diagnosis, immediate isolation and application of the appropriate infection prevention and control measures. The World Health Organisation has published patient management guidance, including care guidance for patients in hospital, and homecare advice for those displaying more minor symptoms.