If you need us please call the answering service and follow the prompts to reach Dr Miller.
For emergencies do not call the office, call 911.
For a direct link to the CDC information go to
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html(opens in a new tab)
Comfort about Coronavirus and what is the one most important thing to do to avoid getting it:
While the Coronavirus is a major concern for everyone, especially the elderly we can also look at this period of time with reassurance that THINGS WILL BE OKAY FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF US. Enjoy your time sheltering at home as recommended by the CDC or a local government agency, connect with your family, read or listen to the news once or twice a day but no more, read a book, watch a movie, exercise.
We know what it is. While the HIV/AIDS virus took two years to be identified the Coronavirus was identified in 7 days. While there is much yet to know about it the World Scientific Community is working 24/7 to understand it and develop a response. Most people who get it do okay including people over 80.
Most people develop symptoms within 5 days of exposure 97% by 12 days.
Symptoms include: fever, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, less commonly achiness, nasal congestion, sore throat, and a runny nose.
A Fever is an oral temperature of 100.5 F and above. The higher above 100.5 F the more worrisome. Older patients may not develop high fevers when sick so the above guidance does not always hold for them. In frail elderly patients a temperature rise >2F over baseline taken at the same time of the day would be a fever, a single oral temperature of 100 F, or repeated temperatures of >99F would be a fever. Note that evening temperatures when not sick are higher than morning temperatures.
Most people recover in 10-14 days from onset of illness.
The incubation period is 1-14 days.
People are contagious for 8-37 days.
If you do not have a fever it is unlikely the Coronavirus. If you have a fever it could be Influenza. Influenza is less likely than Coronavirus to cause breathing symptoms like cough, and shortness in breath. In summary if you have a fever, the symptoms noted above and are short of breath it could be the Coronavirus. While for a presumed diagnosis you need to be exposed to someone with it if you live in the Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties you are considered at risk for an exposure.
Worrisome Symptoms: An abrupt increase in shortness of breath, or coughing may need to be evaluated in the emergency room.
We can test for it. While there has been a delay in rolling out testing the laboratory companies and the CDC are now producing thousands of testing kits and they will be available quickly.
It is being contained in China with quarantine and containment.
If you need evaluation we send you to a healthcare site equipped to evaluate coronavirus with the protective equipment and tests needed by the healthcare professionals. Call me first.
Local sites include DCMH, and Mainline Health Urgent Care Centers or hospitals are preferable.
There is no treatment for the Coronavirus. Like any respiratory virus it can lead to a bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia which then may need the usual antibiotics.
Catching it is not easy if we are careful and it can be killed easily. Frequent, careful hand washing with soap and water can save us. Water temperature does not matter, but lather up with soap, no foaming soap, but liquid, or gel are fine. Bar soap is fine, if it is slimy rinse it off then lather up. Dry your hands with paper towels that additionally clean the skin.
Wash, Wash, Wash for 20 seconds, including all surfaces of your hands. Wash after using the bathroom, before eating, before and after helping a sick person, before and after food preparation, after changing diapers, or helping a child in the bathroom, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, after touching an animal, pet food, or pet waste, after handling pet food, pet treats or touching the garbage, and before and after treating a cut or other wound. If unsure, wash your hands.
Do not touch your face easy to say but hard to do.
Cleanse surfaces that may have had contact with the Coronavirus. Foot containers you brought in, anything someone who could have the Coronovirus touched which means anyone you don’t know is neg for Coronavirus. So anything from a store, cleanse the outside surfaces.