Coughing and still raspberry pie at Grandma's?

Hygiene nurses monitor the protection regulations

Immo and Hans-Friede Boekhoff are doctors and both work in medical practices. Immo as neurologist and Hans-Friede as general practitioner. They have had to make some changes in their practices due to the Corona pandemic. For example, there is a nurse for hygiene issues who makes sure that everyone complies with the protection regulations. The costs for protective clothing and disinfectants are also rising. The organisational effort also increases. Only the number of patients decreased in the beginning. Because those who are often anxious or even depressed then no longer dared to come into the practice.

With every sniffle nose the topic "suspicion of corona" comes into play

But that has changed in the meantime. Neither of them have - knowingly - treated any Corona cases yet. "But now, every sniffle nose has to deal with the subject of suspected corona," says Immo, describing his everyday life. Hans-Friede tells us that there are currently only 7 active corona cases in Brandenburg. One of them has to be treated in hospital. It becomes difficult when the germs are taken to a hospital or a retirement home.

"Avoid people with weak immune systems"

And people with weak immune systems are also at risk. This often affects old people as well. Mia must not cough and sit on grandma's lap No, not even briefly But the most important question for small children is still: How do I distinguish a cold from a high-risk corona infection? Hans Friede says: "It is difficult to make the distinction between a banal respiratory infection and a corona infection. Therefore, it is necessary to test consistently, as before, all patients who report with symptoms to the doctor's office"

"The incidence of serious illness in children is rare"

But Hans-Friede does not see any reason for great concern for the youngest children: "Health problems in children are relatively negligible, unless there are pre-existing conditions". Should the child show symptoms, two important questions arise, in his opinion:

"Do I live in a region with high case numbers and have I had contact with an infected or possibly infected person? Otherwise, the symptoms should be treated like normal cold symptoms. Then a quarantine or testing is unnecessary! However, there are regional guidelines for this from the public health department," says Hans-Friede.

"Everyone has to follow the rules and take this seriously!"

So even if it's hard and Mia has to stay with the babysitter. Everyone has to follow the rules! Because both doctors don't see the problem in too loose guidelines from authorities, but in the fact that many people don't follow the rules:

"There is much to criticize about the authorities, but if people cannot muster the discipline and common sense to deal with the matter properly, the best government and the best health organization can do nothing about it," Immo says.

Hans-Friede has a similar view:

"Basically, it can be said that all measures, such as distance rules, wearing mouth and nose protection and hand disinfection, have a chance of success and should be carried out wherever possible. However, with younger children they are rather not practicable: Here one has to make compromises."

A compromise here is not to visit granny. Until the cough is over. And even then: Best by far!

Published on 23.09.2020