Zhang Boli: The probability of still having symptoms after the conversion is lower and easier to recover

Read Time:7 Minute, 20 Second

Based on current clinical experience, most of the infected patients have a disease duration of about 7 days, and most of them recover after 3 days if they have fever symptoms.

However, after the nucleic acid or antigen test has turned negative, some patients still have symptoms such as cough, sore throat, weakness or loss of appetite, etc. What should be done? Zhang Boli, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has the answer to this.

“We found in Wuhan during the anti-epidemic phase that some newly crowned infected patients still have some symptoms after recovery, but with the weakening of the viral pathogenicity, Omicron-infected patients who still have symptoms after the nucleic acid has turned negative have a lower probability of occurrence, and the symptoms are also milder and easier to recover.” Zhang Boli said that his experience in the past three years has shown that the use of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, tui-na and traditional gong methods can promote healing and improve symptoms such as weakness and shortness of breath. Taking active interventions can promote the healed person’s physical and mental recovery to a better state.

Zhang Boli File photo

For recovered patients who still have mild symptoms, Zhang Boli recommends that they resume work and study 2 days after their nucleic acid turns negative, their body temperature remains normal, and the rest of their symptoms are significantly reduced. Patients of advanced age and with underlying diseases can rest for a few more days. You can also choose some targeted Chinese medicine if you really feel uncomfortable.

For infected patients who have no obvious symptoms and have only recently recovered, Zhang Boli also reminds that Chinese medicine talks about “prevention of recurrence after the disease has been cured”, which means that when the disease has just been cured, the body’s positive energy is still weak and the body’s functions have not been fully restored. At this time, we should pay attention to the post-illness care, to consolidate the healing effect on the one hand, and to prevent the disease from recurring on the other.

And according to the article “Symptomatic management and self-care methods for patients with mild disease” published by Beijing Tiantan Hospital, the disease symptoms caused by Omicron mutant strain are mild and the common main symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue and weakness, loss of smell and taste, diarrhea, sore throat and myalgia. These symptoms appear alone, in two or more combinations in infected individuals, but most of them are mild and somewhat self-limiting.

Fever

It is important to rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and eat light, easily digestible foods.

For infectious fever, fever itself is one of the manifestations of the body’s immune system to clear the source of infection, unless the fever is high and the patient is in serious discomfort, there is usually no urgency to use drugs such as antipyretics.

Patients with high fever must be treated with antipyretic agents such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. (But just choose 1 antipyretic, read the instructions carefully before use to avoid repeated and excessive doses; do not drink alcohol while taking acetaminophen to prevent liver damage.)

Cough

If the symptoms are not particularly severe, there is no need to take cough medicine.

If cough symptoms are very serious and tend to cause breathing difficulties or interfere with normal sleep and rest, take cough medicines for symptomatic treatment, including dextromethorphan hydrobromide tablets, dextromethorphan guaiac glycerol ether syrup, amiloride hydrochloride tablets, acetylcysteine effervescent tablets, Lianhua Qingfei granules (capsules), Xuanlung Louping Compound, Jing Yin granules, phlegm fever clearing capsules, etc.

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Loss of sense of smell or taste

The incidence is not high and most patients will gradually recover their sense of smell and taste in about a week. This is not a symptom unique to New Guan, but can also occur with other respiratory viral infections.

Brush your teeth twice a day to ensure oral hygiene.

If possible, follow the World Health Organization’s recommendations for olfactory training, including smelling lemon, rose, clove and eucalyptus twice a day for 20 seconds each time.

Herbs and spices, such as cayenne pepper and lemon juice, can be tried in foods. However, caution is recommended for patients with concomitant diarrhea or plain gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Diarrhea

Eat a light diet, do not eat foods that are heavy on oil and salt and irritating to the gastrointestinal tract.

Drink plenty of water to replenish the lost water in time.

Patients with severe symptoms may use medications such as montelukast, patchouli capsules (or pills, water, or oral solution) to relieve symptoms.

Dry and sore throat and muscle pain

Listening to relaxing music or meditation can help relieve pain.

Exercise moderately and drink plenty of water.

For joint, muscle or body pain, over-the-counter analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken for treatment. The Chinese medicines Shu Feng Jie Toxin Capsules and Liu Shen Wan are also effective.

Extended reading.

Infection experts: “It takes 15 days to produce antibodies after Yang Kang” is wrong

Expert: Dr. Lin Bingliang, chief physician of the Department of Infection, The Third Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

Global Times Health Client Reporter Wang Shuying

Recently, the news that “it takes 15 days to produce antibodies after Yang Kang” has been widely spread on social media platforms. The reason is that it takes 15 days to produce antibodies after Yang Kang, and many people think that they can relax without fever and do not pay attention to disinfection and protection after they get well, and as a result, they get hit for the second time soon. Specially strengthen the protection to do.”

Screenshot of the chat

The above content seems to be “justified”, which makes many people, especially those who have just “Yang Kang” worried, really so easy to be infected twice? How long does it take for antibodies to develop?

Dr. Lin Bingliang, chief physician of the Department of Infection at the Third Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, said in an interview with the Global Times Health Client that this news is completely unbelievable.

First of all, the statement that “the secondary infection rate of the new outbreak in Beijing has reached 20%” is not true. Firstly, the main strain of the current outbreak in Beijing is the Omicron variant, which has a strong immune escape ability and fast transmission rate, but studies have shown that the rate of secondary infection caused by the same strain is very low. Second, even if secondary infections occur, it is unlikely that the interval is so short. Studies have found that secondary infections generally occur after 3-6 months, with the shortest being at least 28 days. Third, from the existing virus mutant strains, Omicron mutant strains and their evolutionary branches are BA.1, BA.2, BA.5 series, which includes BF.7, BQ.1 and recombinant XBB, no matter which one is previously infected, it is unlikely to be infected with another one in the short term.

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Lin Bingliang pointed out that the statement that “it takes 15 days to produce antibodies after Yang Kang” is also wrong. In fact, antibodies start to be produced as soon as the virus enters the body. However, the amount of antibodies produced by the body at the beginning is very small and not enough to fight the virus. Usually, on the 11th to 14th day after the onset of fever and other symptoms, the antibodies “beat” the virus, the nucleic acid turns negative, and the antibody level reaches a fairly high level.

Of course, the exact number of days to peak antibody levels varies from person to person, but as long as the nucleic acid turns negative, the virus has been cleared and the antibody levels are sufficient, so the likelihood of a secondary infection within 15 days is extremely low.

Many people are also curious, “Is it true that the more severe the symptoms, the more antibodies will be produced? In this regard, Lin Bingliang said, theoretically there is such a possibility. However, the severity of symptoms after infection with the new coronavirus is also related to many factors, which are still to be further confirmed by research.

Lin Bingliang finally reminded, just nucleic acid turned negative “Yang Kang” people do not need to be overly anxious, if you feel very weak, should pay attention to eat well and sleep well, it is best to recuperate for a period of time. If you feel good about yourself, you just need to do a good job of daily protection, wear a mask, wash your hands and ventilate regularly, because there is more than just the new crown virus that is prevalent in the winter, so good protection can also play a role in preventing the flu.