Still confused about one thing WRT Coronovirus

[Frangipanini]

I'm still confused about one thing WRT Coronovirus and so can't prep for it till I'm sure what I need to do.

I understand how it is spread, what I need to do to minimise my risk (disposable hankies, hand gels, wash hands etc.) and that if I think I have it then I need to isolate myself or people within my family. All fine here and I will be prepping for a month (shortly) because it seems to be heading towards a shut down.

My confusion. How do I prep for the eventuality that one of us may get it in a mild to moderate form. I'm confused because it is not clear what it is exactly. Is it a virus? Is it flu? It's not bacterial. I don't really understand this bit and so am not sure what to stock up on from the chemist incase. As it presents itself in flu like symptoms, are we meant to treat it like flu?

Just to add though that I actually lived in HK during SARS but I was young and no DC so didn't really prep for it. One thing I do remember from that time though was that the hysteria. The government would imply one thing e.g. we MAY close schools or we MAY close the border and the whole of HK would immediately go to the shop and wipe the place clean. In these events people don't just buy what they need, they take all they can get. With this in mind I will be prepping. I am not actually concerned about getting it, I think the risks are not as high as we think, I'm more concerned with supply chain shortages and having nothing to eat for 3 weeks as everyone panics and runs to the shops if BJ hints we could shut down the place for 2 weeks.

By the way, not see this said in the UK but we were told by the HK authorities that we should wipe door handles, light switches and other areas in the house that everyone touches, everyday with something that kills germs.

It's a virus.

"Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome.."

www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

So at home with mild cases you would treat it how you normally treat, fevers, coughs etc

OK, thanks. Just did a bit of googling after finding a good article on the symptoms. I am going to stop up on:

Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Vit C capsules
Menthol Cough drops
Cough suppressants (dry cough mixture)

Also adding in a few extras of own:

Long life Pineapple juice (apparently has great effect on throat and soothing qualities)
Honey

There’s a good case for not taking anything to lower fever in adults. Apparently fever is the body’s way of creating optimal conditions for our immune system to fight the illness. It may not be pleasant to experience, but by lowering the temperature you may be hindering your immune response. Fever in children is something you need to be much more careful about due to febrile seizures.

Please anyone feel free to correct me if I have misremembered any of this. I am not medically trained, only worrying what I recall from dr John Campbell on YouTube.

I wouldnt take cough suppressants you need to be able to clear the gunk ?

Research indicates dark chocolate may help sore throats and coughs
It's the cocoa
(not kidding)
A good excuse to add a few bars to your stash, to back up the over-the-counter meds

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/body/health/news/a40500/doctors-chocolate-cold-cure/

Professor Alyn Morice, an 'international cough expert' and head of cardiovascular and respiratory studies at Hull University:

"slowly sucking on a piece of chocolate may provide some relief".

It’s a virus. As is flu. It’s related to SARS. You need fluids, paracetamol and ibruprofen.

I have also stocked up on the sambucol elderberry stuff; it does seem to have some effect on viruses, and it tastes so delicious I would happily pour it over ice cream.

I had wondered this too. When i had swine flu (totally different i know) it was dehydration that landed me in hospital - so this time i have rehydration salts and some ice pops to suck. But i dont know at what point you go from 'this is moderate trest at home' to i need medical attention and what you do..you cant just go to the gp

the dirtiest most germ ridden thing in your home is likely to be .........your phone. No point in singing a couple of choruses of happy birthday while washing your hands if you then pick the virus back up from your phone. So dont forget to clean that now and then.

If you havent been taking any vitamin D supplements this winter then start taking them now and continue until at least the end of March, longer if you need to stay indoors.