Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) Updates

[lee_yl]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1980048\" time=\"1591605671\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1980048 time=1591605671 user_id=53606]
I tend to side with slmkhoo’s interpretation of the term “acute”, is the medical definition.

The article is not using the plain English definition of acute.

I believe the medical definition of acute is intended, aka opposite of chronic (long-term, prolonged illness):

https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/acute[/quote]

Then why not label every illness acute, like acute cough, acute headache, acute tummyache, etc, since it means opposite of chronic (long-term illness).

From the Cambridge dictionary Seaseals attached, acute means “pain or illness is one that quickly becomes very severe” Like acute appendicitis. Acute Respiratory Infection for Covid-19 patients can be severe and is a serious symptoms.

Anyway, the definition of acute is beside the point! The critical thing is, is there any lapse when checking the student is fine before entering classroom? All 5 had no fever!! Should the process of checking be changed? Why always stick to taking temperature?!

[starlight1968sg]

It is assume that when one has virus, the first symptom is fever. Hence the temp checking is prevalent. However, I question the accuracy of the checks bec often my temp is 36.2 or even lower when checked by staff in ntuc or Malls I thought the normal body temp is 36.9.

[sharonkhoo]

starlight1968sg\" post_id=\"1980068\" time=\"1591623418\" user_id=\"14025:

It is assume that when one has virus, the first symptom is fever. Hence the temp checking is prevalent. However, I question the accuracy of the checks bec often my temp is 36.2 or even lower when checked by staff in ntuc or Malls I thought the normal body temp is 36.9.

Temperature varies depending on where it is taken. The 36.9C temperature is generally internal (rectal or oral), while temperature taken from body surfaces are lower. Body temperature also varies from person to person, at various times of the day and, for women, at different times of the month. Normal skin temperature can be as low as 33C for some people, and sweat, aircon, fan etc also makes skin temperature lower than internal temperature. So if your temperature is measured as 35-36C in malls, it's quite normal. Mine is generally around there too when taken on entering SS. I don't know if such thermal scanners can pick up mild fevers, though, since someone with a temperature of 37.5 might measure as 37?

Anyway, for this COVID-19 virus, fever is only one symptom, and not everyone is feverish, and it won't necessarily be the first symptom. Temperature checks are a good way to screen out those with fevers, who are arguably more sick and probably more infectious, but it's not a foolproof way to screen for all infected people.

[starlight1968sg]

There has been cases when I was in a rush and sweating much, my temp was 36 or less.

[sharonkhoo]

starlight1968sg\" post_id=\"1980105\" time=\"1591661985\" user_id=\"14025:

There has been cases when I was in a rush and sweating much, my temp was 36 or less.

Sweat is the way a body gets rid of heat through evaporation. So that would make the skin cooler.

[sharonkhoo]

There was some different in opinion about what \"acute\" means in the medical context of COVID-19. Here's the definition in the ST today:


https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/swab-test-generally-painless-but-there-might-be-some-discomfort
\"Acute\" here refers to the condition's sudden onset of symptoms that have a short course, as opposed to chronic conditions such as diabetes, and not the severity of one's condition.

[lee_yl]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1980263\" time=\"1591747158\" user_id=\"28674:

There was some different in opinion about what \"acute\" means in the medical context of COVID-19. Here's the definition in the ST today:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/swab-test-generally-painless-but-there-might-be-some-discomfort
\"Acute\" here refers to the condition's sudden onset of symptoms that have a short course, as opposed to chronic conditions such as diabetes, and not the severity of one's condition.

That’s ST trying to justify its choice of words. Good that they acknowledge the ambiguity the word poses !!

So next time when ST reports about someone with acute appendicitis, will they insert a footnote that says, “Acute in this instance means sudden and severe.”

[sharonkhoo]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"1980264\" time=\"1591748974\" user_id=\"17023:

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1980263\" time=\"1591747158\" user_id=\"28674:

There was some different in opinion about what \"acute\" means in the medical context of COVID-19. Here's the definition in the ST today:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/swab-test-generally-painless-but-there-might-be-some-discomfort
\"Acute\" here refers to the condition's sudden onset of symptoms that have a short course, as opposed to chronic conditions such as diabetes, and not the severity of one's condition.

That’s ST trying to justify its choice of words. Good that they acknowledge the ambiguity the word poses !!

So next time when ST reports about someone with acute appendicitis, will they insert a footnote that says, “Acute in this instance means sudden and severe.”

The ST has probably realised that there was much misunderstanding, and they probably should have thought of this earlier. But they are not \"justifying\" their word choice; this use of \"acute\" is correct in medical contexts, which is why it's used in this way to refer to COVID-19 infections. And I wouldn't be surprised if they were just reprinting info provided by MOH. It's just that the non-medical use of the word has different meaning.

[Nebbermind]

starlight1968sg\" post_id=\"1980105\" time=\"1591661985\" user_id=\"14025:

There has been cases when I was in a rush and sweating much, my temp was 36 or less.

digital thermometers and especially the non contact type have their limitations.
if you use a traditional mercury thermometer, the temp is usually more consistent and also 37+/- 0.2 thereabout

[flowstate]

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