By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A pulmonologist with Hutchinson Regional Health System notes that there is an aspect of treatment with COVID-19 that is as new as the virus.
"For the first time ever treating a pneumonia, we started treating the low oxygen associated with this pneumonia by putting them on blood thinners," said Dr. Mohammed Al-Halawani. "We give oxygen supplementation, we put the patient on blood thinners. That's not the aspirin. I've seen on social media people belittling the disease and saying, oh you can take some Tylenol and aspirin at home and that will take care of the blood clot issue. That will not do anything for the blood clot issue."
The virus itself appears to be different than it was earlier in the pandemic.
"We've noticed also that the severity of disease kind of dropped," Al-Halawani said. "We're seeing more cases now than we saw in the beginning of the pandemic. Some studies out there show that the virus mutated in a way that it became less severe, but more infectious."
Dr. Al-Halawani notes that such developments means mask wearing is really important.
"Because it's easier to spread the virus, now you'll have more asymptomatic carriers or people with minor symptoms. You know, I spiked a fever last night and that's it and I think I'm fine. In reality, I would be carrying the virus and then spreading the virus around if I'm not wearing a mask. That could jeopardize the life of some elderly guy that I just crossed paths with."
Al-Halawani reminds us that wearing a mask is not to protect the person wearing it. It's to protect other people.