Update:

The COVID-19 information is changing as more information is being gathered about this historic time. I would like to correct some information. The following symptoms of COVID-19 as listed by the CDC may appear 2-14 days after exposure:

Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath

Please note the cough can be dry or wet. You can keep up with current information on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/

Another point I would like to stress is that coughing will not remove the COVID-19 virus from your body. Coughing helps to clear the lungs of debris that collects but will not cure COVID-19. Keeping your respiratory system healthy is important to your general health and well-being. Currently, the treatment for COVID-19 is by symptoms.

Your compliance with the guidelines for keeping COVID-19 from spreading is important to your health, the health of your family and of the nation and the world. This is a difficult time. It is a situation that we have not faced before. But we will survive. Nurse Linda

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It seems all we hear about is the new coronavirus or as it is now named COVID-19. This virus is so new that it did not even have an official name until just recently. Some days, there is no other news reported except about COVID-19. Just a little over a month ago, the virus was in other countries but not in the United States. It traveled quickly. Now, this is all we are hearing about and for good reason.



Although we know little about this specific virus, we do know some things about viruses in general. A virus has one purpose in its life and that is to survive. It will multiply and mutate to keep living. Therefore, viruses can be hard to treat. They change forms to stay alive. Viruses are not killed by antibiotics, bacteria are. People who have a virus are contagious because that virus wants to spread to keep itself alive.

The COVID-19 virus spreads rapidly. It is transmitted from person to person by droplets from your respiratory system through coughing and saliva, through mucous membranes such as touching your eye, nostril, mouth, genitals or rectum and by touching contaminated objects. The virus can live for hours on things that someone has touched with COVID-19 contaminated fluids or hands. When you connect with the contaminated droplet and touch a mucous membrane entry into your body occurs.

Risk Factors

Individuals who have reached the age of 60 years and those who are immunosuppressed are at highest risk for the worse cases. As a normal part of aging, the development of T cells that fight infection become less effective. That does not mean younger people or children are not susceptible, they just seem to have less symptoms for now.

For individuals with spinal cord injury at any age, immunosuppression or the way your body responds to bacteria and viruses is not as strong. This is because after a spinal cord injury messages about viruses and bacteria may not be transmitted to the brain correctly for the body to initiate and early response.

Adding some of the complications of spinal cord injury further compounds the problem. Diabetes is one complication of SCI that further affects the body’s immune response. Adding a urinary tract infection is another. Individuals who catheterize are at higher risk of viruses and bacteria because of entry into the sterile urinary system. Open pressure injuries are another avenue for viruses and bacteria to enter the body. The spleen is the major infection fighting organ of the body. If you have disease that affects your spleen or trauma or removal of the spleen, you have an increased risk of infection. Heart disease is also a risk factor.

How COVID-19 affects your body

The lungs are elastic in that they inflate and deflate. COVID-19 affects the lungs by making them fibrous or less able to stretch.

The COVID-19 favors to live in your respiratory system particularly in your lungs. Individuals with spinal cord injury at any level of injury have immunosuppression due to affected breathing. It takes three sets of muscles to have great breathing ability. The diaphragm does most of the work of breathing, followed by the support team of the intercostal muscles (those in between the ribs) and the abdominal muscles. The three work together to create a deep, full and effective respiration and cough.

Helping your respiratory system

Coughing helps to keep your lungs clear of debris such as mucous and particles that enter the lungs as you breathe. Coughing also helps disrupt viruses and bacteria from making a home in your lungs. It won’t completely stop you from becoming ill, but it can help move debris around in the lungs. Perform three deep breaths followed by a cough at a minimum of four times a day.

If you have an incentive spirometer from your hospital or rehabiliation stay, now is the time to use it if you can. These devices are issued to everyone with a spinal cord injury but are soon forgotten about as life moves on. If you can locate yours, get it out and start using it. It is a plastic device with typically three balls each in a chamber. You draw air into your lungs while using the mouth piece to make the balls flow up in the chambers. Try to hold the balls up while breathing in. Start low and build up tolerance. This can help reduce flus and colds by keeping your lungs clear and healthy. Clean your incentive spirometer with soap and water daily.

Symptoms of COVID-19

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever of 100.4 and above, wet cough and difficulty or painful breathing. Notice most of the symptoms are in the upper respiratory system as COVID-19 is currently mostly a respiratory virus. The virus can mutate and involve other systems at any time.

What to do if you suspect COVID-19

If you have symptoms, you should call your healthcare provider. They will instruct you where you can get tested. Plans are underway to keep infected people out of the offices and hospitals to avoid spreading the virus to others. If you are having difficulties breathing, you should always call 911. Tell them COVID-19 is suspected so the emergency personnel can come prepared to protect themselves and you.

Test kits and testing sites are available. The test kit, which consists of a deep nasal swab, will indicate if your have COVID-19 or not. It can take 24 to 72 hours for results depending on the supplier of the test kit and volume of tests.

COVID-19 Treatment

There currently is no treatment specific to COVID-19 as with many viruses. Treatment is based on symptoms. You will be treated by symptom if you have COVID-19 or not. The test kits are very important for assessing the rates and patterns of the virus. However, medical care is based on treatment of the symptoms of your condition. If you have COVID-19 or another virus, you should remove yourself from others. If you do not have COVID-19, you should still isolate yourself to avoid spreading whatever you do have.

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, you will need to be isolated. If you have a mild case, you will be asked to remain in your home and away from others including family members. This will include separate sleeping arrangements. No one should come in to say hello, like visitors and children. If your case is severe, you will need to be hospitalized and will be in isolation there.

Prevention

The goal is to keep you from having the COVID-19 virus. Washing your hands is essential to avoid infection. With spinal cord injury, hand washing is essential when doing self-care. Washing your hands now should be in overdrive. This does not mean a little spritz. Effective hand washing is based on three principles, warm flowing water, soap and friction. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday-twice. Gloria Gaynor has a wonderful play on her hit, I Will Survive, as she washes her hands. It makes hand washing a lot more fun.

You will need supplies. Delivery services are very helpful. Have the package left at the door and bring it in after the delivery. Drive throughs are helpful as well. If you do need to go to the store, start at the location where the cart cleaner wipes are. For some odd reason, most stores have you get your cart and then clean it. Once you have touched the cart, you have picked up the germs! Start with the cleaning wipes, wipe your hands with them, then get your cart and clean the pushing bar. If you have access to the hand wipes at the exit, re-wipe your hands on the way out.

Hand sanitizer works well when you are out. Hand sanitizer works if it contains 60% alcohol per CDC guidelines. 70% alcohol is better. It is difficult to buy right now. However, you can make your own wipes by putting wet, soapy paper towels in a tightly sealed bag or food saver box. You will also need a separate wet paper towel set for rinsing and some dry paper towels for drying. Yes, that is a lot to tote around but better than getting a virus.

Because of your location in a wheelchair, you are at a disadvantage because your head is lower than most standing people. This puts you in a vulnerable position. After being out or interacting with others, wash your face as well as your hands. Remember, your face has mucous membranes that allow viruses and bacteria to enter. Wash your hands first then wash your face starting with eye lids, then the rest of your face. Use a clean wash cloth each time you wash your face.

Maintain the three to six-foot distance when talking or interacting with others. Respiratory droplets cannot travel that far, so you are protecting yourself from breathing their germs. People might spread the COVID-19 virus but not know they have it. Avoid individuals who have been in large groups or who have recently traveled. Recent guidelines suggest groups of less than 50. Scientists suggest even smaller numbers. Some say gatherings should be no larger than ten.

Avoid crowds. This is going to be a challenge for everyone. We like to socialize. Think of other ways to gather. Social media will really come into play now. Don’t forget the old telephone for that vocal contact. Check on your neighbors regardless of age or abilities.

Remember the rims. If you have been out, you will want to wipe down your wheels and rims each time you enter your home. Have others remove their shoes by the door and wash their hands when they come into your home. Some people may use disposable gloves when pushing their chair outside of their home. Just remember not to use your mouth to remove them.

Many individuals with higher level spinal cord injury use their mouths to assist with activities. You will need to stop doing this when outside of your home as the mouth is a major way for COVID-19 to enter your body.

Hydration is always important. Due to bladder programs, it can be difficult to take in more water than you are allotted. Do NOT overwhelm your system but try to take just an extra sip of water every hour when awake. This will create an increase in hydration your body without much effect on your bladder program.

Rely on family and friends to help you when outside of your home. Have them shop and run errands.

It is fine to go outside in uncrowded areas. Getting some sun and fresh air is appealing to everyone. It only takes a few minutes of sunshine to increase the vitamin D in your body. Do not start any supplements unless it is determined that you have a need for them. Most people do not require supplements. Your healthcare provider can determine your need through blood tests. Adding any supplement can conflict with your medication.

There is a lot of information about dietary effects for the immune system. Eating a healthy well-balanced diet is beneficial to everyone. Foods that can help build the immune system include spinach, fresh kale, swiss chard, bell peppers, strawberries and mushrooms. These foods in frozen form have the same benefits. It does take time to build the immune system through diet. One meal is a start, but it takes time to benefit.

Stay positive and cautious

All the pounding of information about COVID-19 is quite overwhelming. Today, the CDC recommends that we all self-isolate for 8 weeks. This must be done to protect ourselves, family, loved ones and society as a whole. If everyone cooperates, the transmission could go down and less time in containment may be needed.

We all must remember that an extremely large number of people will NOT get the coronavirus. That includes individuals in the community of those with spinal cord injury. Practicing exemplary hygiene and keeping distance from others increases the odds that we will be exempt from COVID-19. This is a critical time in history. Just today, clinical trials of a vaccine for COVID-19 was announced.

It is best to check the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization websites for the most current and correct information. We should be cautious but perhaps this will become a heads up for more caution in general. We can do this.

Pediatric Consideration

Children are less likely to get COVID-19. That does not mean that the virus will not mutate into something that will make children susceptible. The practices listed above are good hygiene and preventative measures for any virus or bacteria. Following the guidelines will help reduce the chances of other illnesses and create an environment for better long-term health.

Post your questions or concerns about COVID-19 on Reeve Connect for our Information Specialists and experts to address.

Linda Schultz, Ph.D., CRRN, a leader and provider of rehabilitation nursing for over 30 years, and a friend of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for close to two decades. Within our online community, she writes about and answers your SCI-related healthcare questions in our Heath & Wellness discussion.

