Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1302895
5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 OCTOBER 2020 shown ground glass opacity, a term used for typical changes in the lungs – "This is seen in various conditions including heart failure, 'bird fancier' lungs, types of fibro- sis, and other lung parenchymal diseases. However, the peripheral, symmetrical ground glass consolidations in both lungs are very typical of COVID pneumonia," he said. Micallef said that they have seen typ- ical signs on chest X-rays even on pa- tients that have tested negative. "We have had patients getting a positive swab up to eight days after hospital admission. Swab tests are only positive in up to 70% of COVID cases. That is why we repeat swabs," he said. The treatment, Micallef said, involved oxygen, as well as the steroid, dexametha- sone to reverse the changes, as well as an- tibiotics to prevent other bacteria, which can "opportunistically, attack COVID af- fected lungs. "Our main concern is when patients de- velop respiratory failure. Typically, oxy- gen levels in the blood go down to below 92% and some end up on a ventilator. The most worrying is Acute Respiratory Dis- tress Syndrome (ARDS) where the lung tissue is severely damaged and fluid ac- cumulates. This has a very high mortality rate," Micallef said, adding that another complication was blood clots of the lungs, also known as a pulmonary embolism. "In any severe pneumonia (be it COVID, other viruses or bacteria) with respirato- ry failure and ARDS requiring intubation and intensive care treatment, some scar- ring or fibrosis of the lung is common," he said. However, Micallef that from his experi- ence, the lungs can heal though it might take months. "We still do not know the long-term effects of COVID pneumonia. To again, quote data from the SARS out- break, up to 30% of patients intubated who survived remained with some lung scarring," Micallef said. 'It's time to take COVID seriously' Micallef warned that while in most cas- es, COVID does not permanently dam- age the lung, and that a full recovery is expected, "some patients develop serious lung complications." "Scientific evidence is showing us that certain individuals are more at risk if more of the virus is inhaled and depos- ited in the lungs and elderly people seem to be even more vulnerable. This is why we should follow local and international public health guidelines by washing our hands, social distancing, wearing masks, avoiding gatherings and so on," Micallef said. Micallef said that while COVID-19 has become the centre of everything, many individuals are experiencing other diseas- es, like heart conditions or early cancer, who are afraid to seek medical attention because they are afraid of contracting COVID-19 from hospitals, health centres and GP clinics. "I am convinced I can contract COVID more from the community than working daily in hospital attending to patients with respiratory conditions. Patients have died, and we expect many more in the coming years due to these common dis- eases, which we deal with daily, saving lives. "These preventable, premature deaths will by far outnumber COVID deaths. Please come for help," Micallef said. Cases 5373 Active 1845 Recoveries 3478 Deaths 50 Swabs 314,619 LATEST COVID-19 www.maltatoday.com.mt/covid19