Prognosis
How Doctors Would Treat a 74-Year-Old Man Who Has Covid-19
- If no symptoms, isolate and monitor for tiredness, doctors say
- Symptoms trigger look at oxygen in blood, X-ray for treatments
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The decision on whether to start giving medicine to a 74-year-old man with Covid-19 begins with a small mechanical device placed on his finger.
It’s called a pulse oximeter. Using beams of light, it measures how much oxygen is in the blood, as well as heart rate. If it produces a reading of less than 95%, it can be the first determiner for doctors on whether to start aggressive treatment with antiviral and anti-inflammatory medication, according to Hugh Cassiere, medical director for respiratory therapy services at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island.