[ExI] viruses

[SR Ballard]

I think the “it’ll either kill you, or you’ll live” mindset is overly simplistic. If that were actually the case, and hospitals were largely ineffectual, then we would not expect to see a spike in deaths when hospitals are overburdened. 

In any case, mechanical ventilation may allow a patient who would otherwise die, to recover.

In conditions such as COVID-19, anorexia is a symptom. The lack of interest in eating or drinking can lead to imbalances of fluids and dehydration. IV fluids can be indicated here. I don’t trust the average person to run an IV line. This is even more indicated in someone suffering from gastrointestinal distress — which, by the way, is common in COVID-19 patients!

While you might say, “drink more water”, but when I was recently stricken with the flu, I lacked the strength to stand up to get a glass of water. I crawled to the bathroom on more than one occasion, and stumbled/fell my way to the bathroom for 2-3 days besides that. I went 7 days, where I only at 2 slices of toast the entire time. Likely COVID-19 patients experience the same.

When very, very ill, one lacks the strength to do basic things, and at that point the hospital is the correct answer. Also, if there is pronounced confusion as well.

But I feel you are overlooking an important point as well — patients in hospital do not visit relatives, have relatives care for them, go shopping, or attempt to go to work.

Viral Pneumonia 
If you have an influenza virus, your doctor may prescribe medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), or peramivir (Rapivab). These drugs keep flu viruses from spreading in your body.

Source: https://www.webmd.com/lung/viral-pneumonia-lung-infection


Polio

- Difficultly swallowing can be deadly, as can difficultly breathing

Because no cure for polio exists, the focus is on increasing comfort, speeding recovery and preventing complications. Supportive treatments include:

Pain relievers
Portable ventilators to assist breathing
Moderate exercise (physical therapy) to prevent deformity and loss of muscle function
Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/polio/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376517

In fact, for the viral disease polio, the damage can be so severe that long term assistive equipment may be required, such as iron lung.

However, after a few weeks of assisted most patients regained the ability to breathe again. 

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_lung
See: 
https://youtu.be/gplA6pq9cOs

SARS

Mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy are often needed. Drug intervention often required because of opportunistic infection.

Source: https://www.medsci.org/v01p0001.htm

SR Ballard

> On Mar 19, 2020, at 9:04 AM, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
> 
> It is my understanding that your body kills a virus or the virus kills your body.  There is only symptomatic treatment, right?
> 
> So just how is corona going to overwhelm our health system?  People will seek treatment but there isn't any - stay home and don't infect others.
> 
> Plenty of fluids; aspirin for fever; supplemental oxygen for severe cases.  What else?  
> 
> Who knows?
> 
> bill w
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