Doctors see post-Covid spike in lung fibrosis cases

Kolkata: Post-Covid lung fibrosis and other complications continue to be a cause for concern among health experts. Doctors said lung fibrosis was being reported in the city among people who required intensive care during Covid treatment, which includes oxygen support and steroid therapy.

The state health department advises chest HRCTs to determine the type and extent of abnormality in the lung and that pulmonary fibrosis should be managed by specialist doctors. Doctors said post-Covid lung fibrosis is reversible. Meanwhile, KMC has begun CBNAAT diagnosis at its primary health clinics for early diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections in the lungs.

“Patients who have had bad Covid tend to suffer from low immunity for a long period. They are susceptible to secondary infections including tuberculosis,” said pulmonologist Raja Dhar. The CBNAAT tests have a dual impact, said TK Mukherjee, KMC health department advisor. “The test has proved its efficacy and established its need at a time when patient immunity — those who suffered from Covid — is fluctuating. Low-immunity patients are prone to tuberculosis,” said Mukherjee.

The CBNAAT is available in five teaching medical colleges in Kolkata. According to a KMC health department official, the civic body is providing the CBNAAT and TrueNAT test facilities to patients who had tested positive for Covid and later developed fibrosis in the lungs along with other lung-related complications at the clinics after the Swasthya Bhawan stepped up testing.

According to a KMC senior health department official, the civic body has bought expensive medical equipment to introduce the tests at its health clinics. A KMC physician said since Covid-19 tends to flare up latent tuberculosis, doctors at the health clinics were asked to recommend CBNAAT test for suspected TB patients or patients who have been suffering from cough.

Private practitioners are referring patients to health clinics for these tests as well. Arup Dasgupta, a Bansdroni resident, was worried for wife Sharmistha who had tested positive for Covid. “I went to a health centre and got her tested after she had cough bouts and the doctor recommended the test. I was relieved when she tested negative for CBNAAT,” he said.