[W Forum] Warm Comfort Melts the Cold Hearts of Confirmed Patients

Published 12 Feb.2020 11:30(KST)

An adult male, Mr. A, who was residing in Wuhan, China, experienced chills and muscle pain after entering Korea. Thinking it was just a common cold, he continued his daily life, but when his symptoms did not improve, he called 1339. He visited a hospital for testing, and after specimen collection, he was immediately isolated. He was told he could not leave until the results came back negative. Spending a day at the hospital with anxiety, Mr. A soon became a confirmed patient of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) and was assigned a number. Isolation treatment in a negative pressure room began.

In fact, judging by symptoms alone, his condition was not severe. Still, fear of the virus surged. Watching the news about the increasing deaths in China, he worried unnecessarily that he might suddenly develop respiratory failure. Moreover, in the chaotic social atmosphere filled with rumors of death cover-ups in China and political conspiracy theories, it was difficult to sleep each day. He felt as if everyone was blaming him, and seeing medical staff clad in protective suits made him feel pitiful and sorry. Although he had reported to the public health center and received a diagnosis properly, the intense public attention made him feel somewhat unfairly treated. Various thoughts caused considerable stress. Sometimes, he even felt depressed. Why me...? Even though he tried not to watch the news, his eyes kept drifting to it.

Still, he held onto hope. Most patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus in Korea had mild symptoms, and some had already recovered and been discharged. He dreamed of the day he could leave the confining isolation room and return to his family. He felt sorry for his family’s feelings and for acquaintances worried about him, fearing he might have transmitted the virus to them.

Mr. A’s story is a fictional narrative from the perspective of a novel coronavirus patient looking at the current situation. The domestic spread of the novel coronavirus, which some hoped would end early, is still ongoing. Looking back, there is regret: “If only entry from Hubei Province, China, had been restricted earlier,” or “If suspected cases had been more thoroughly expanded and quarantined for 14 days.” However, the response so far seems to have been “well managed,” and at this point, when there is concern about community transmission, it may be the starting point for a full-scale response.

The characteristic of the novel coronavirus is that it mostly begins with mild symptoms, making it difficult to pinpoint the onset of symptoms. Additionally, its strong transmissibility led to a case where one domestic patient caused secondary and tertiary infections, resulting in a total of five diagnosed cases. Compared to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), concerns about community transmission are greater than hospital-acquired infections, which heightens public interest and anxiety.

However, excessive anxiety is not advisable. Having experienced Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and MERS, we have developed a learning effect regarding novel infectious diseases. Although uncertainty about a new disease causes anxiety, a moderate level of anxiety can be positively used to strengthen the response system for novel infectious diseases. Excessive anxiety, however, can waste unnecessary medical resources and administrative power, so all efforts should be focused on upgrading guidelines and manuals to respond step-by-step to the ever-changing disease transmission.

During treatment, Mr. A also received psychiatric counseling and medication for depression, anxiety, and insomnia alongside infectious disease treatment. As the situation progressed, the patient’s mental stress deepened. The public’s support wishing for recovery can be a healing agent. As the social impact of the novel infectious disease grows, social consolation for patients battling the disease is urgently needed. The next confirmed patient could be me or my neighbor, and their experiences may provide valuable clues for advancing medical science. It is also good to remember that vaccines and treatments to combat the evolving virus may be developed through their sacrifices.