While the nation is facing the wrath of coronavirus pandemic, the number of cases continue to surge. In Kerala, mystery has gripped after 2 corona patients have been tested positive even after showing no symptoms for 40 days.
A woman in her 50s, who hails from Vadaserikara village in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, was admitted in the District General Hospital on March 10 when she tested positive. She was a primary contact of a three-member family who had returned from Italy and tested positive on March 8.
While others who got the infection from the same family recovered and were discharged after two consecutive tests turned negative in two weeks, the woman continued to be under treatment at the hospital.
Her test results continued to show positive for coronavirus. Finally, 46 days after being admitted, the woman was finally discharged on April 24.
Now again, Pathanamthitta district has a similar case again. A 53-year-old man, who had returned from England in the United Kingdom, tested positive on March 25 and has been undergoing treatment since then. It has been 43 days and the man’s samples are still showing positive for the virus.
According to Dr Nandini CS, the District Surveillance Officer of Pathanamthitta, his RT-PCR or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results have been showing positive, but the man is asymptomatic currently.
“Although a patient may not show any symptoms, there are fragments of coronavirus RNA in his body. The woman’s samples turned negative three times, but this man’s samples were single negatives, which is why we cannot discharge him yet,” said Dr Nandini. As per the discharge criteria, two consecutive samples should test negative before a person can be discharged.
The district officials said they are currently relying on international studies to gauge that such patients are still testing positive not because they are infected but because of the RNA fragments in the cell.
Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta district officials are waiting for three more test results of the patient from England. “If he is still showing positive, we will convene a medical board meeting to decide the next course of action,” said Dr Nandini.
He was initially given symptom-based treatment, antiviral drugs and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Currently, he is being administered only multi-vitamin tablets to improve his immunity.
Asymptomatic patients big worry, social distancing essential: Experts
