How do you know if you should self-quarantine?
Anika H Ahmed, MD
One term that a patient does not like hearing from a physician is ‘self-quarantine’ because it means a total change of lifestyle. Focusing on infectious communicable diseases most of my life, I have spent 25 years explaining to my patients why a self-quarantine is required. Anytime anyone anywhere feels he or she has been exposed to an infection, a self-quarantine is needed with close observations and monitoring under the watchful eyes of a health worker. Many infectious diseases like tuberculosis on a long term of multi anti-bacterial drug regime do not need a self-quarantine but viral infections like influenza and the ongoing present pandemic of COVID-19 certainly require self-quarantine. Thus in the case of COVID-19 there is a strong need of self-quarantine anytime anyone feels he/she has been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, whether it be through a symptomatic or asymptomatic carrier. The requirement of self-quarantine is raised particularly when a person has been exposed to a high-risk group due to travel, work, social gatherings, or during deliveries of essential services. The specific individual may feel asymptomatic but has either travelled to an area with an active outbreak of the virus, or may even have had close contact with a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19.
One of my patients contacted me after he got the news that a colleague with whom he shared his office space, including a shared telephone and computer space, had tested positive for COVID-19. As expected, he was very anxious and wanted medications to stay protected from coronavirus and maintain good health. My advice to him was immediate self-quarantine for 14 days. Not only he but others in contact with him at home, as well as at work, needed to be self-quarantined for 14 days. If during these 14 days, he or other colleagues or family members develop any symptoms, mild or severe, in the form of a fever, a dry cough, breathlessness, loss of sense of taste or smell, and generalized body aches, they must notify their doctor immediately and, if possible, get tested for COVID-19. The good news is that self-quarantine, done properly with strict isolation from everyone around the house, may prevent the spread of the coronavirus to other family members at home. The patient may be fortunate to either not develop any symptoms or develop mild symptoms treatable by supportive therapy at home. Some patients may end up in the fortunate group that does not pick up the coronavirus at all from the positive colleague or become only an asymptomatic carrier.
The spread of COVID-19 can surely be reduced with proper social distancing and self-quarantining of people exhibiting the highest standards of hygiene for themselves and their environment at home.