Almost a year after the World Health Organization (WHO) first declared the new coronavirus a public health emergency, the agency issued a new clinical advice for home and hospitalized treatment of patients with COVID-19.
The agency also announced future plans to study so-called “long-COVID” or also called “COVID long-haulers”, which continue to experience symptoms well after the infection passes.
The agency also revealed plans to study long-COVID.
(iStock)
“Understanding this condition is one of WHO’s priority areas of work,” the agency said in a statement published on Tuesday. “In February 2021, WHO will organize a series of consultations to reach consensus on a description of this condition and its subtypes, and case definitions. Scientific understanding will inform the name of the condition. The consultations will include a wide range of stakeholders , including patient groups. “
THE US VOTES TO HELP WHO IN THE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE: FAUCI
Meanwhile, for current patients who do not require hospitalization, WHO recommends using pulse oximetry to measure blood oxygen levels. Over-the-counter products must be “coordinated with other aspects of home care, such as education for the patent and care provider and regular patient monitoring”.
For those in need of hospitalization, the agency suggests that healthcare professionals consider using low-dose anticoagulants to prevent blood clots, as well as placing patients receiving supplemental non-invasive oxygen in their stomachs to increase the flow of oxygen.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
The agency noted that the guidelines are “a living document, updated regularly as more data becomes available”. The update arrives on the same day that WHO announced it was working with Moderna to speed up the approval of its list of photos for emergency use of COVID-19.