FOR MAY 28, 2023
A Question & Answer Session
with Dr. Bryan Cepedoza
regarding the new COVID-19 variant
(Part 2)
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): My final question in our May
21, 2023 interview was about the symptoms of this new
variant named XBB.1.16, which according to the
Department of Health (DOH) was detected in Western
Visayas. The DOH further said that this subvariant is
also known as Arcturus and it has now been detected in
33 countries.
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza (DBC): Yes and I said that based
on the DOH advisory, it was clarified that in general,
COVID-19 exhibits flu-like symptoms such as fever,
cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat,
headache, body pain, and diarrhea, among others.
TBT: Is it true, that this subvariant is very contagious
and spreads fast?
DBC: Yes, it is true. But, this variant, despite the fact
that it is highly contagious, does not present the same
severity as the delta variant before that resulted to many
admissions in the hospital and many casualties too.
TBT: Again, what are the manifestations of a person
who is infected with this variant, Dr. Bryan?
DBC: As I said, it was clarified by the DOH that in
general, COVID-19 exhibits flu-like symptoms such as
fever, cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat,
headache, body pain, and diarrhea, among others.
Atong timan-an, usab, nga ang ubang mga symptoms
niana kanang mga ubo ubo ug mga sip-on ginagmay. Pero
ang uban mag develop ug chest pain, labad sa ulo, ug naa pay
uban nga ma stroke unya atong mahibaw-an nga diha na diay
siya’y Covid. Let us remember that there are other
manifestations that are not respiratory in nature.
TBT: So, what are the other manifestations that are not
respiratory in nature?
DBC: There are also manifestations that are neuro in
nature. Ug mo ingon tag neuro na-igo ang utok ani. There are
also those whose manifestations are in the form of a heat
stroke. Naa puy uban manifestation ani nga cardiac. For
example, there is a patient with covid symptoms but is already
having a heart attack. Some patients also have severe diarrhea
to the point of being dehydrated.
TBT: Is it possible that those whose manifestations are
in the form of stroke or heart attack, may lead to death?
DBC: Not really. The patient is only going to suffer mild
stroke indicated by the slurring of speech. This means a
slow kind of talking that can be difficult to understand. It
is also characterized by indistinct sounds running into
one another.
TBT: Does it mean to say that those who are
hypertensive and are infected with the new Covid
subvariant, are more prone to have a stroke, if infection
is not properly addressed?
DBC: Yes. It is then necessary that we protect those
who have hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, etc.,
because these are the people who are easily infected
with the virus. Those with comorbidities and those who
are immunocompromised should take extra care so they
will not be infected with the virus.
TBT: I know of the case of a senior citizen who is
admitted for covid infection right now. The diagnosis of
the doctor says that the patient has some blood clots.
Why is that so, Dr. Bryan? (To be continued)