Some hospitals in Delhi have observed that patients who had recovered from novel coronavirus are returning with recurrence of the infection. Delhi government-run Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital saw two cases of relapse of coronavirus earlier this month, about one-and-a-half months after they were cured. In both the cases, the patients had moderate symptoms.

Aakash Healthcare in Dwarka also saw a case of a cancer patient who recovered from COVID-19 and then contracted the infection again after a couple of months. But, the second time, the infection proved fatal and the patient succumbed to the virus. Last month, the case of a Delhi policeman also came to the forefront who had a relapse of the novel coronavirus infection.

Another such case came to be known in the same month in Delhi when a nurse deployed at a civic-run dedicated COVID-19 hospital tested positive again after recovering from the disease.

Dr BL Sherwal, medical director of the Delhi government-run hospital, states that unless viral culture or gene sequencing is done, it will be difficult to ascertain if it is a different strain of the virus that has infected the person the second time.

He added that there can be a relapse. There is evidence stating that the virus becomes non-infectious after ninth or tenth day, and the patients are not tested again.

But, the virus may live in patients who have recovered around 39 to 40 days back, stated Dr Sherwal.

Dr Chandragouda Dodagoudar, director of medical oncology at Aakash Healthcare in Dwarka, mentioned about the case of a 65-year-old patient with stage 2 lymphoma. The patient first visited the health facility in March and was advised chemotherapy but owing to apprehension due to the coronavirus disease, the patient delayed the treatment for two and a half months and took alternative medicines.When that medication did not help, she started having pain, and visited the hospital. She had contracted COVID-19 and the lymphoma had progressed from Stage 2 to Stage 4. Chemotherapy could not be started while the patient was undergoing treatment for COVID-19. Once the patient recovered from coronavirus, she was given a slight dose of chemotherapy, following which she got better and was discharged.

However, a month later, she had a relapse of COVID-19 and became critical and succumbed to the disease. The doctor stated that the patient did not have any other co-morbidities but called cancer a co-morbidity. Dr Sherwal added that patients with weak immune system are likely to get reinfection.

He further stated that immuno compromised patients have an increased risk if they do not take precautions such as wearing of masks and frequent washing of hands… (India TV – With inputs from PTI)

Source: India TV