With the pandemic consuming us we often find ourselves at crossroads about what is true and what is not. With suggestions coming in from all over and the protocols still being in a fluid state, it becomes difficult to understand what to believe and what not to. For instance, till a few weeks back we witnessed relatives desperately searching for plasma of recovered patients, only to find out later that plasma therapy in CoVid is not a legit solution as it plays no role in reducing mortality or improving the patient’s condition. Similarly, the efficacy of the anti-flu medicine is still under question.
There are a few things that we often hear but are definitely not true, so here we are debunking a few CoVid myths:
Myth 1: You can kill coronavirus inside the body by Spraying chlorine or alcohol on the skin
These are chemicals that can only disinfect surfaces. If you apply either alcohol or chlorine on your skin, it can do more harm and no good, more so if it enters the mouth or eyes. Only use these as surface disinfectants.
Myth 2: SARS-CoV-2 only affects adults or people that have pre-existing conditions
Just like any other coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 can infect and cause complications to any age group. Older adults and individuals that have pre-existing health conditions like asthma, diabetes, obesity, are at higher risk of complications. The probability may be higher for this age band and group of people with severe illness and death can come to anyone.
Myth 3: Children cannot contract COVID-19
Children are immune to CoVid-19. Their symptoms may be milder or they could be asymptomatic, but that is not true for all children. It would be absurd to believe that the virus has spared them.
Myth 4: CoVid-19 is no different from the flu
CoVid-19 may exhibit flu-like symptoms such as body ache, cough, fever, pneumonia etc. but the Infection overall is more serious with a higher mortality rate.
Myth 5: If you get infected with COVID-19 you will die
This is not true at all. CoViD-19 is fatal only for a fraction of the people who contract the virus. A lot of people who get this virus have mild symptoms and some are even asymptomatic.
Myth 6: Coronavirus is spread by cats and dogs
As per the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) there isn’t any evidence that animals play a significant part in spreading the CoVid-19 virus.
Myth 7: If you wear a face mask you have complete protection against the coronavirus
Nobody is 100% safe despite wearing a mask – surgical masks and N95 masks worn by healthcare professionals offer a greater amount of protection but are not a 100% fool proof option. Even when someone is wearing a mask, other precautions must be taken such as social distancing up to 2 metres, not touching your face and washing or sanitizing your hands frequently.
Myth 8: Alcohol based hand sanitizers create antibiotic resistance
This is not true. Pathogens do not develop any sort of resistance to alcohol-based sanitizers. Just like one uses antibiotics or antiseptic, one can use a hand sanitizer.
Myth 9: It is safer to wear gloves rather than frequently cleaning your hands
This is false as it is actually recommended to clean hands often rather than wearing gloves. Health workers also wear gloves for particular tasks and this can not replace washing hands. In fact, when you wear gloves, germs can be transferred from other surfaces, which end up contaminating your hands when the gloves are removed.
Myth 10: Hydroxychloroquine prevents illness or death from CoViD-19
This may have been a proven treatment for malaria and certain autoimmune disease; however, tests confirm that it is not a preventative treatment for CoVid-19 & it does not impact the illness, symptoms or death from it in any way.
Myth 11: home remedies can protect you from the Virus
There are no home remedies – having Vitamin -C, Zinc, taking steam, doing saline gargles etc., that can prevent you from the virus, these methods just provide relief and are healthy habits to adopt.
Do not fall for these myths, stay safe, mask up, wash your hands regularly, maintain good hygiene, do not touch your face, buy your sanitizer, keep a thermometer and oximeter handy and do not step out or go to public places unless absolutely essential. Your entire CoVid-19 essential requirement can be fulfilled at Healthskool pharmacy which is online and in your neighbourhood. If something is out of stock at the moment, they will make it available.