During the current
, it has been observed —through radiological examinations— that the virus can affect a large part of an infected patient's lungs in five days, reported Alvaro Bejarano —a pulmonologist at the COVID Room of Edgardo Rebagliati Hospital in Lima.
"In these cases, the patient may already have certain problems of shortness of breath and problems while exercising because he/she becomes tired very easily," he indicated.
However, the physician pointed out that a patient with 50% lung involvement already has a severe disease, will require oxygen, and needs to be hospitalized.
"We have patients with 90% lung involvement. These patients are in the ICU and have a high risk of mortality. We have even seen cases of severe 100% involvement, in which the risk of mortality is even higher," he expressed.
Prevention
Moreover, the physician recommended that people, who have mild symptoms, should periodically measure their oxygen saturation level using a pulse oximeter that they must own.
Bejarano also indicated that each patient should measure his/her saturation four times a day. If this level falls below 92%, he/she must be hospitalized because that person has a lung involvement of more than 50%, as well as needs oxygen and medications.