Anantapur: An 85-year-old woman from Hindupur, infected with Covid-19, was discharged after a 16- day long battle with the virus in hospital. The woman survived even as she lost her 60-year-old son to the virus.
The family of Mahaboob Bee, resident of Housing Board Colony in Hindupur municipality in Anantapur district, had four positive cases, including a death. Three generations - old woman, her son and grandson – were infected by the virus.
The family’s first contact was a 60-year-old man who had contracted it from a Mecca returnee. The man was a patient with respiratory problem and shifted to the TB ward of Anantapur general hospital on March 31. The man died on March 3 and he was declared as Covid-19 positive after his death.
The old woman could not even see her son, who was directly taken to burial ground from hospital. “I couldn't even see the body of my son during final rites," she recalled.
On April 4, the authorities instructed the family to go into quarantine.
However, the 85-year-old woman, unable to move due to age-related problems, was permitted home quarantine while other family members were shifted to isolation wards.
"She, grandson and driver were confirmed Covid-19 positive on April 5. Though she was asymptomatic, due to her age and condition, she was admitted to district Covid-19 hospital ( KIMS Saveera) at Anantapur on April 5. She underwent treatment and was cured within 16 days. “Doctors took the case as prestigious and handled sensitively,” Anantapur collector Gandham Chandrudu said.
Her 29-year-old grandson, an RMP practitioner at RPGT Road, and his driver were also discharged on Tuesday night.
The old woman is 85-years-old according to her Aadhaar card but she is possibly 87 years old or more, doctors from the hospital observed.
Critical care in-charge of Covid KIMS Savera hospital, Dr. Ravishankar, told Deccan Chronicle that the old woman was brought to the hospital from Hindupur in a critical condition on a stretcher.
"She was in a state of depression and fear. We kept her grandson in the same ICCU ward to build confidence for old woman. Within two days, the patient was free from depression. She was allowed to speak with her other family members over phone,” Dr. Ravishankar said.
Describing the method of treatment, Dr. Ravishankar said the old woman already had diabetes and hypertension. "Only oral medicine, mostly tablets, were given to her during all the days of treatment and no IV medicine was injected. HCQ was also not given because of her age and other ailments", he said and added she was able to attend to her own work within five days of being admitted to the hospital.
"At the time of discharge, the old lady, with a cheerful face, was brought on a wheelchair, a model of confidence for millions of people in a panic situation across the globe,” Chandrudu said, applauding the round-the-clock efforts of the medical team.
The grand lady confidently said she was attending to her own work in the house without any fear of the coronavirus. “Mera kaam mai kar sakti hu aur corona beemari ka koi fikr nahi,” she said, expressing gratitude to the doctors.
