Do I need to be quarantined for a minor cold during the epidemic? What should I do for a minor cold during the epidemic?

We all know that the new coronavirus is a new and more difficult virus recently. It is highly contagious. The initial symptoms are fever, dry cough, etc., which are very similar to the symptoms of a cold, so you must pay attention to protection. So do you need to be isolated for a mild cold during the epidemic? Let's take a closer look!

Do I need to be quarantined for a mild cold during the epidemic?

It is best to self-isolate.

During the epidemic, if you have a mild cold or fever, don't be too nervous. A cold will heal itself in about 7 days. If you have a cold and are very scared, you can self-isolate for a period of time.

Isolation is necessary for influenza, which is an important measure to prevent and control cluster outbreaks of influenza. If it is not isolated, it will easily cause a large-scale epidemic of influenza, which will cause serious harm. The course of influenza is generally about one week, and the disease will also have a certain degree of self-limitation. Active treatment during isolation will generally lead to good recovery. If treatment is not timely, it will lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

What to do if you have a mild cold during the epidemic

Self-isolation

It is best to live in a separate apartment. If you live with your family, you should have your own room, close the door, and open the window for ventilation. You can put a fan near the windowsill to blow out. The virus survives in the air for a very short time. As long as there is no one and an open space outside the window, the virus will not spread. Wear a mask when leaving your room, and remind your family to wear masks. Ask your family to put the three meals at the door of the room, and open the door to take them after the family leaves. Self-isolation can only end after the cold symptoms disappear and recover. If the symptoms do not improve, go to the hospital for examination in time.

Drink plenty of water

The daily water intake should not be less than 1500 ml, and it is best to reach 2000 ml. You can add an appropriate amount of vitamin C effervescent tablets to the water.

Symptomatic treatment

Generally speaking, the common cold can heal itself in about a week. If there is no fever, it is recommended to drink more water and rest more. If the fever is below 38.5°C, physical cooling is the main method and observation is recommended. If the body temperature does not continue to rise, medication is not necessary. The medication for patients with fever needs to be judged by doctors based on the comprehensive situation, not just the fever. Most cases of simple fever in the short term are considered to be caused by viruses or bacteria, and you can stay at home for follow-up observation. If there are no other serious symptoms, you can take some cold medicine.

Blood oxygen measurement

Go to the pharmacy and buy a finger-clip blood oxygen monitor, and measure the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) dynamically every morning and evening. The SpO2 of a normal person is around 98. If there is a downward trend, for example, it was always 97-98 at the beginning, but now it is only 94-95, it is recommended to go to the hospital for blood drawing and lung CT screening in time.

The difference between colds and novel coronavirus pneumonia

The common cold is caused by cold viruses, most of which will not cause pneumonia. The new coronavirus can easily cause lung infection. This is the main difference between the two.

Infection with the new coronavirus can cause pneumonia and various respiratory symptoms. In severe cases, there may be difficulty breathing, respiratory distress, and even respiratory failure and multiple organ failure.

It can be seen that the harm of infection with the new coronavirus is much more serious than the common cold. However, as a viral infection, the new coronavirus infection has many similar symptoms to the common cold. Especially for patients with mild symptoms, the initial symptoms are somewhat similar to the common cold, such as headache, muscle aches, fatigue, low fever, etc.

Therefore, it is very important to make a differential diagnosis between these two situations. A clear diagnosis requires a throat swab or a blood nucleic acid test to determine whether the coronavirus has been infected. In addition, chest CT and other examinations will reveal that patients infected with the new coronavirus will have interstitial inflammatory changes in the lungs.

How to prevent colds

1. Weather forecast

First of all, what we need to do is to pay attention to the weather forecast every day to know what tomorrow's weather will be like, and then we must cover ourselves up at night so as not to get cold. When we get up the next morning, we must add clothes according to the weather conditions so as not to get cold.

2. Drink hot water

After getting up, you should drink some hot water to warm your body. In addition, you should do some physical exercise or aerobic exercise to enhance your resistance and prevent yourself from catching a cold due to poor physical condition.

3. Wear a mask

When we go out, if there is wind, we are advised to wear a mask to prevent cold air from entering the nasal cavity or the innermost part, which can also cause a cold.

4. Ventilation

If you are indoors, you must ventilate the room in time and don't close the windows too tightly. Without air circulation and good air quality, it is easy for bacteria to spread, increasing your chances of catching a cold.

5. Control the indoor and outdoor temperatures

You should learn to control the indoor and outdoor temperatures. Because the weather is too cold and the indoor temperature is relatively high, you should put on all your clothes before going out. Don't wait until you go out to put on your coat, as this will easily lead to a cold.

6. Getting angry

When you are at home or at work, you can buy a pack of isatis root and drink some water to improve your immunity. Also, don't eat food that always makes you get angry.

7. Cold medicine

In addition, you should prepare some cold medicines at home so that if you catch a cold, you can take preventive measures. For some people, the condition gets worse the longer they delay.