Medical journal focuses on benefits of Covid experience in critical care

Kolkata: The Covid experience is helping city doctors treat critical patients with respiratory distress. A woman in the 26th week of pregnancy, who suffered from typhoid, fever, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and sepsis, was successfully treated at a Kolkata private hospital, prompting the ‘Journal of the Association of Physicians of India' (JAPI) to publish the case study in its Feb 2025 edition. It was cited as an instance of successfully managing multiple acute disorders, especially in a pregnant woman. Doctors at Charnock Hospital, where the woman was treated, observed that the Covid experience helped them manage treatment and save the woman. The woman, in her 30s, was admitted with ‘high-grade fever, chills, and occasional shortness of breath and cough'. She had previously undergone medical termination of a six-month pregnancy due to foetal anomaly. While her parameters were normal on admission, she developed episodes of hypoxia (drop in oxygen level) with intermittent high-grade fever and worsening respiratory distress on the second day.Her respiratory rate dropped to 46 per minute and her temperature shot up to 102 degrees. After a series of tests, she was shifted to the medical ICU from the general ward. Despite initial oxygen therapy with a nasal cannula and high-flow oxygen mask, her saturation did not improve. So, she was put on a high-flow nasal cannula to address her ‘progressive hypoxia' along with escalated antimicrobial therapy."Eventually, she responded well to IV antimicrobials and the oxygen therapy, which was tapered off. Her overall condition improved, her oxygen demand decreased with time, and she was discharged in a heemodynamically stable condition with a viable single live foetus. She is now under regular follow-up at the medicine and gynaecology department," the JAPI article said.While cases of typhoid and hypoxia are common, this case turned out to be complex due to the woman's advanced pregnancy, said internal medicine consultant at Charnock Jayanta Dutta, who supervised the treatment. "We do come across typhoid fever frequently but this case was unique because of its association with pregnancy and development of ARDS, a potentially fatal condition," said Dutta.The JAPI article noted that "typhoid is one of the most common infectious diseases in the tropical region". The authors of the article, Dutta and Dip Kumar Chaudhury, noted that "recent experience of handling Covid patients with ARDS helped. "Though the outcome of ARDS in typhoid fever is universally grim, this case made an excellent recovery with a preserved healthy foetus," the article said.Covid has changed the way breathing distress is managed, with doctors now more adept at handling it, said Charnock Hospital pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta. Check out the Valentine Day 2025 , along with the Valentine’s Day Wishes and Messages.