Coronavirus: what to do in case of symptoms?

Fever remains the main alert for a possible Covid-19 infection. Better to consult a doctor or dial 15.

The Covid-19 epidemic has indeed started in France in recent days. But what are the symptoms, if any? The two main manifestations are fever, present nine times out of ten, and dry cough, twice out of three. With a possible trap at the beginning of the disease since the fever does not necessarily appear the first days. In Wuhan, China, one in two patients was still below 37.5 ° C at the time of hospitalization and one in five was only 37.5 ° C-38 ° C. And one in three patients did not have a cough at the start either…

For people who have been in contact with a confirmed patient of Covid-19, it is particularly recommended to monitor the temperature twice a day (and the appearance of respiratory signs: cough, discomfort) for 14 days, the duration of incubation period before reporting symptoms if you have been infected. In fact, nine times out of ten fever ends up appearing. In 90% of cases, it remains below 39 ° C. If this is the case, you must then call the Samu by dialing 15 and follow the instructions that will be given. Do not go to emergencies on your own initiative, at the risk of clogging up the healthcare systems while spreading the virus

The other symptoms are unfortunately not very specific and are of the same type as those found in other respiratory viral infections. One in three patients is tired, almost one in five is short of breath, one in seven has a sore throat, headache or diffuse muscle pain. Less than one in twenty people have a stuffy nose, diarrhea or nausea. Finally, 80% of the identified patients have only a moderate form of the disease. "Teleconsultation should be favored and one should not hesitate to call the doctor back if symptoms appear or worsen," explains Dr. Frédéric Le Guilloux, pulmonologist and president of the French respiratory health association. "Okay, if these are patients we know well , qualify Dr. rJérôme Marty, general practitioner and president of the UFML-S union, otherwise it risks being more anxiety-provoking than reassuring ”.

What worries doctors is first of all the 14% of severe forms. If the epidemic gains momentum, as we saw in Italy with more than a week ahead of France, this may be enough to clog up the emergency services, or even more serious, for the 6 % of critical forms of the disease, to overflow the capacities of the intensive care and intensive care services.

So what to do in practice if you have symptoms of Covid-19? " It's very difficult, we are in a situation that will change in a few hours or a few days , says the Figaro D r Serge Smadja, Secretary General of SOS doctor 

France. As I speak to you, we are still in stage 2, that is to say that when we see a suspected case of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), we must immediately contact Samu / Center 15 ” . In theory, suspect cases should indeed receive a test to find out whether or not they are infected with Sars-CoV-2 (the name of the coronavirus responsible for the current pandemic).

But when France has moved to stage 3, the priorities will change. The effort of initial care and follow-up of moderately affected patients is transferred to city medicine. There are already remote monitoring medical devices connected for people with respiratory failure which could prove useful. With the exception of clusters, we refrain from going up the chain of contamination and hospitalization mainly concerns the most serious cases. " It is best to organize the home care to unload up the hospital sector , says P r François Bricaire, infectious disease specialist and member of the Academy of Medicine. ATthis stage we will do as during flu epidemics where everything that looks like a flu is considered to be flu, we will say that everything that looks like a coronavirus infection is coronavirus. "

The idea of ​​the DGS to be satisfied with a surgical mask for the doctor and the patient is unrealistic in general medicine.

Dr Jérôme Marty, general practitioner and president of the UFML-S union

The influx of patients will therefore begin in medical offices, on the front line. "I have a separate waiting room for patients suspected of respiratory infection, explains this general practitioner from Pas-de-Calais, no need to reserve a time slot for suspicious cases."

Will GPs test suspect patients for Covid-19 now that a Minister of Health decree will allow them to be used and reimbursed in the city? "If they arrive at the speed of FFP2 masks, it will be difficult to do so," quips Dr. Emmanuel Bourdrez, a general practitioner in Solesme, who has been consuming surgical masks, protective glasses and gloves at an accelerated speed. Remember that only FFP2 masks effectively protect the doctor from a patient without a mask. “ The idea of ​​the DGS to be satisfied with a surgical mask for the doctor and the patient is unrealistic in general medicine , underlines Dr Jérôme Marty, general practitioner and president of the union UFML-S.How do you go about examining the throat of a patient wearing a mask?