Blink-’n’-miss Covid cases surge in Kolkata – Times of India

KOLKATA: Even as the state’s Covid-19 caseload shows a sharp spike and the death toll creeps up, doctors in the city are reporting a sudden surge in the number of patients with mild, blink-and-you-miss-it symptoms that are fading away in two-three days, quicker even than the ordinary viral fever. Most of these patients are ‘recovering’ from mild fever and throat irritation even before they test positive. Health experts warn that while this could be a signal of the virus losing some of its sting, these asymptomatic patients pose a far greater risk of passing on the infection, particularly to the elderly and those with low immunity, for whom it could be dangerous.

A 42-year-old corporate communications executive tested positive on Sunday after feeling ‘feverish’. She says she wouldn’t have got tested if she hadn’t visited a relative at a hospital. The test report left her shocked for she didn’t have fever or any of the other Covid symptoms.

A 64-year-old doctor was admitted to a private hospital last week with just a mild cough. He tested positive without any of the other conventional symptoms.
Doctors say that in most cases now, fatigue, body ache, loss of taste and smell, poor appetite and a sense of uneasiness are the principal symptoms.
“Low-grade fever without any of the associated symptoms is very common now. Often, even the temperature is sliding back to normal before the patient can take note. This is a good sign for it indicates that the virus could be losing its potency. Most Covid positives can now be treated at home and chances of complications are negligible for them. There has been a sharp drop in the number of patients who need to be put on ventilation,” said Debkishore Gupta, head of infection control at CMRI Hospital. He, however, warned that every Covid patient still needs to remain in quarantine for 17 days. “On the flip side, these patients with no symptoms could infect the elderly and the immuno-compromised for whom the virus could be fatal,” Gupta added.
According to AMRI Hospitals consultant Debashish Saha, a pandemic can be checked only when 30%-50% of the population gets affected with mild symptoms. “Some viruses lose virulence through transmission and we could be reaching that stage. But every patient with mild symptom needs to be screened and kept in home isolation. While it will help to free up hospital beds for more serious patients, isolation at home could be a challenge for a large section of our underprivileged population who don’t have enough space for it,” Saha added.
The last two weeks has seen a sharp spurt in the number of patients with very mild symptoms, admitted Fortis Hospital pulmonologist Raja Dhar. “While some have a sore throat without fever, there are others who have just lost their sense of taste or smell and nothing else. Fortunately, they are getting themselves tested and a lot of them have tested positive over the last fortnight,” said Dhar. He added that the trend indicates that transmission is now rampant and that the pandemic could reach its peak even later than expected. “It’s time to look for the unusual signs and take even the mild symptoms seriously. Those with any kind of symptom need to get tested,” Dhar said.
Belle Vue Clinic consultant Rahul Jain said the majority of infections would now be mild or totally asymptomatic. “Those with an influenza-like illness or sudden acute respiratory illness are the other end of the spectrum. They are now a small part of the total infections in the community,” he said.