Karnataka: ‘Those in home isolation need pulse oximeters’

BENGALURU: The state’s Covid Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recommended that the government provide medical kits for all patients in home isolation that includes pulse oximeters, besides medicines for mild infection.
Oximeters detect oxygen saturation level in the blood. When checked with a fingertip pulse oximeter, a reading of 95% is ideal. Anything below that is a warning sign of acute infection and breathlessness.
TAC chairperson Dr MK Sudarshan said lack of awareness on pulse oximeters is still widespread.“Pulse oximeters should be an integral part of the home monitoring system. Patients who show a sudden drop in oxygen saturation levels should immediately seek medical attention,” Dr Sudarshan said.
If ordered in bulk, the government can purchase each pulse oximeter for Rs 600-800, the TAC has said. As per the committee’s recommendation, a medical kit should include medicines such as Ivermectin, vitamin C, zinc, paracetamol, Cetirizine and Pantoprozole (to be taken as per prescription),10 triplelayered face masks and a 100ml bottle of hand sanitizer, besides oximeters. In Bengaluru alone, more than 80% of the 3.4 lakh active cases are in home isolation.
Given the huge shortage of oximeters, the market is flooded with substandard devices that give wrong readings, says Dr Sudarshan. TAC has also suggested the government conduct random checks and audits, seize substandard devices, and conduct investigations.
Doctors say using the pulse oximeter frequently is unhelpful unless one walks for six minutes between tests. That is, one must take a reading and then walk briskly for six minutes and take another reading. If the difference between the readings is more than 5%, it constitutes a warning signal and these patients must seek hospital treatment immediately.
MK Mayanna, president, Bruhath Bengaluru Chemists and Druggists Association admits that there is a shortage of oximeters. “Supply is low, and the price has gone up from Rs 800 in early 2020 to Rs 2,500 at present,” he said.
Doc was clueless
Recently, a 44-year-old Ayurvedic doctor from Bengaluru, who did not know what pulse oximeters were, landed in trouble when he almost collapsed at home in early April. He suffered acute breathlessness at that time.
Alerted by family members and neighbours, the doctor’s wife purchased a pulse oximeter and found that his oxygen saturation level had dropped to 60%. The doctor was immediately rushed to a private hospital in North Bengaluru and was treated for nearly three weeks. He was discharged recently.
Dr Chetan Kumar NG, pulmonologist who treated the doctor said awareness on pulse oximeters among the public can save lives. Dr Chethan even made a video of the patient’s wife talking about the importance of pulse oximeters.
“I suggest everyone have a pulse oximeter at home and check saturation levels to prevent sudden mortality,” the woman told TOI.