Covid-19: Tumakuru DC seeks death audit report of doctor who died in home isolation

Death of a young doctor on Covid-19 duty from Kunigal taluk Government Hospital after ten days of home isolation has stumped doctors. The deceased doctor had contracted the virus but presented with no symptoms and hence sent to home isolation. Despite being monitored for ten days when he showed no signs of worsening, his oxygen saturation levels suddenly dropped and he passed away on Monday midnight.

While doctors are raising questions on the manifestation of the disease, which presents itself so differently in different people, experts are talking about the risks associated with home isolation and doing it right. Dr Devaraj was working in the non-communicable diseases wing in the health department and was a resident of Channathimmanapalya near Yeliyuru. His parents had passed away and he was unmarried.

CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH

Dr Jagadish KN, Taluk Health Officer, Kunigal Taluk, told DH, "He passed away on Monday midnight and we cremated him on Tuesday. His condition deteriorated on the 11th day after testing positive. During these ten days he was being monitored by an ASHA worker, ANM, health inspector, the local doctor and our physician Dr Naveen. He was asymptomatic all the time."

"I suspect he died because of 'happy hypoxia'. It never shows any symptoms. He experienced fatigue and breathlessness on Monday morning. His oxygen saturation had dropped to 54%," Dr Jagadish further explained.

Dr Trilok Chandra, head of the Critical Care Support Unit said that he had spoken with the Tumakuru DC and that the death audit should be completed by Wednesday. Chandra also termed the case as one of 'silent hypoxia' where the patient is relatively comfortable despite oxygen levels dipping.

Dr CN Manjunath, state nodal officer for Covid testing said home isolated patients should check their oxygen saturation levels every three hours and a chest X ray should be taken before home isolation is started. He also recommended a blood test indicating inflammatory markers before starting home isolation. "Oxygen saturation cannot dip from above 90 to below 60 in a small period of time. There seems to be some lackadaisical attitude in his monitoring," he said.

Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Tumakuru, told DH, "He was given regular medicines given to Covid patients during home isolation. He was shifted to Surya hospital, a private Covid hospital.

"We don't know the reason for his sudden demise, I am yet to receive the death audit committee report. Tumakuru district surgeon, the district surveillance officer, and private specialists will be looking at his case files," he said.