DRUGS FOR DEADDICTION

50+ male patient, asthmatic, returning from a COVID-19-affected European country a few days earlier. Started to feel unwell before departure with fever and shortness of breath. No wheeze, hypoxia, tachypnea or tachycardia on assessment, only pyrexial with persistent dry cough. Arterial blood gas readings are all within range. Would you admit this patient? Would you swab this patient for the virus? Does the fact that he is asthmatic make a difference to your decision making? Would you prescribe antibiotics?

41 year old male presents to the ED with SOB x5 days. He was in contact with a COVID+ patient. He reports fever highest 102.3. States he has body aches and chills. Denies cough or sore throat. Places on 6L/min via NC and sats increased to 91%. History of Hypertension Hypothyroidism Morbid obesity Prediabetes. what do you suggest?

50's male presented to the ER with shortness of breath and fevers for the last 2+ weeks. Fevers resolving in the last 3 days reportedly per patient. I became more Breathlessness prior to ER. No significant PMH. D-Dimer >20.

Confirmed #covid-19 crp >300, WBC 11, temperature 38.8, spo2 90% room air, RR 30, terrible wheeze, SOB, sweaty. Rapid deterioration in breathing, intubated and ventilated 24 hours later.

A 58 year old male, non-smoker, asthmatic patient was referred with 3 weeks history of breathlessness, wheezing, and dry cough. He had a history of acute severe asthma many years ago. However, he had not required ventilatory support during that period. Since then, he had self-medicating intermittently with oral salbutamol and theophylline only. On examination, the patient had dyspnoea at rest and tachycardia. Oxygen saturation was 90% on room air. Respiratory examination revealed bilateral polyphonic rhonchi; otherwise, he was normal. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed hypoxemia (PaO2: 54 mmHg) with respiratory alkalosis (pH: 7.43, PaCO2: 32.3 mmHg and Bicarbonate: 20 mEq/l). Let's discuss the case on today's World Asthma Day