New type of pneumonia – announcement on consultation and medical examination guideline

Recently NHK News On-line reported the following:

新型肺炎 相談や受診の目安公表

02月17日　15時30分

新型コロナウイルスによる感染症について、厚生労働省はどのような症状の時に相談や受診すべきか、その目安をとりまとめ、１７日公表しました。

それによりますと、まず一般の人はかぜの症状や３７度５分以上の発熱が４日以上続く人、強いだるさや息苦しさがある人は、全国の都道府県にある「帰国者・接触者相談センター」に相談するよう呼びかけています。

かぜの症状や発熱については、解熱剤を飲み続けなければならない人も対象になるとしています。

高齢者や糖尿病・心不全・呼吸器疾患の持病がある人や透析を受けている人、免疫抑制剤や抗がん剤などの投与を受けている人は、感染すると重症化しやすいため、こうした状態が２日程度続く場合は相談するよう呼びかけています。

また妊婦も念のため、重症化しやすい人と同様に早めに相談するよう呼びかけています。

子どもについては、現時点で重症化しやすいという報告は無く、一般の人の目安通りに対応してほしいとしています。

また、相談や受診の前に、心がけてほしいこととして、発熱などのかぜの症状がみられる場合は学校や会社を休み、外出を控えること。

そして毎日、体温を測定して記録しておくことを呼びかけています。

さらに、相談後医療機関を受診する際には、相談センターから勧められたところを受診し、複数の医療機関を受診することは控えるよう呼びかけています。

厚生労働省が示した新型コロナウイルス感染症の相談・受診の目安によりますと、まず相談・受診の前に心がけてほしいこととして、発熱などのかぜ症状が見られるときは学校や会社を休み外出を控え、毎日、体温を測定して記録するよう呼びかけています。

そして帰国者・接触者相談センターに相談する目安として、かぜの症状や３７度５分以上の発熱が４日以上続いている人や、解熱剤を飲み続けなければならない人、強いだるさや息苦しさがある人としています。

さらに高齢者や糖尿病、心不全、呼吸器疾患の基礎疾患がある人や透析を受けている人、免疫抑制剤や抗がん剤を使用している人については重症化しやすいため、目安として示した症状が２日程度、続く場合帰国者・接触者相談センターに相談するよう呼びかけています。

また妊婦については念のため重症化しやすい人と同様に早めに相談するよう呼びかける一方、子どもについては現時点で重症化しやすいという報告はないとして、目安どおりの対応をするよう呼びかけています。

厚生労働省は、「現時点では新型コロナウイルス感染症以外の病気の方が圧倒的に多い状況であり、インフルエンザなどの心配があるときには通常と同様にかかりつけ医などに相談してほしい」としています。

そのうえで相談後、医療機関にかかるときのお願いとして、帰国者・接触者相談センターから受診を勧められた医療機関を受診し、複数の医療機関を受診するのは控えること、医療機関を受診する際にはマスクを着用するほか手洗いやせきエチケットを徹底するよう呼びかけています。

Translation

Regarding the infectious diseases caused by the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare had compiled a guideline on at what moment one should make consultation and be examined, and announced this on the 17th.

According to it, first of all, for people who had cold symptoms or fever of 37.5 degrees and over for more than 4 days, and had strong drowsiness or breathlessness, should consult the "Returnees/ Contacted Person Consultation Center " in prefectures nationwide.

Regarding cold symptoms and fever, those who needed to continuously to take antipyretics were also targeted.

Elderly people, people with diabetes, heart failure, respiratory disease; people on dialysis and people who received immunosuppressants or anticancer drugs were easier to become serious ill when infected. In a situation if illness continued to last for two days, to seek consultation was suggested.

Also, as a precautionary note, pregnant women were encouraged to seek consultation early, same as those who were easier to become seriously ill.

At this time, there were no reports that children were more likely to become seriously ill, their cases should be handled according to the general public's guidelines.

Also, before consultation or examination, as a thing to keep in mind, if one had any symptoms such as fever, please took a break from school or work and refrained from going out.

And every day, to measure and record body temperature were called for.

In addition, when seeking examination at a medical institution after consultation, it was recommend that one should consult a doctor at the location recommended by the consultation center, and to refrain from consulting multiple medical institutions.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's guidelines for consultation and medical examination for the new type coronavirus infection, first of all, it wanted people to keep in mind that when one had cold symptoms such as fever, before consultation and medical examination, to stay away from school and work, and to take measurement of body temperature and record it every day.

As regarding the guideline for the Returnees / Contacted Person Consulting Center, it was for people with cold symptoms and had fever of over 37.5 ° C for more than 4 days, and those people who had to continue to take antipyretic drugs; and those who had strong drowsiness and breathlessness.

In addition, because elderly people, people with diabetes, heart failure, basic respiratory disease; and people on dialysis, people using immunosuppressive drugs and anticancer drugs were more likely to become more sick, so if the symptom as shown in the guide had persisted for about 2 days in a continuing situation, they were advised to arrange consultation with the Returnee / Contacted Person Center.

Also, while as a precautionary measure, the Ministry called on pregnant women, same as those who were more susceptible to serious sickness, to make consultation as soon as possible. At the current time there were no reports that illness was likely to be more severe for children, the suggestion was that they should respond as already indicated.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare supposed that, "at present, there are overwhelmingly many diseases other than the new coronavirus infection, and if you are worried about influenza, we would like you to consult your GP as usual."

After consultation, if one was requested to visit a medical institution, one should visit the one that was recommended by the Returnee / Contact Person Consultation Center and refrain from visiting more than one medical institution. When visiting a medical institution, one was encouraged to wear a mask, and on top of that to thoroughly perform hand-washing and cough etiquette.

              So, Japan is taking serious measures nationwide to deal with the infectious diseases caused by the new coronavirus named by WHO as COVID-19.