Triathlon and Coronavirus Treatment in Oaxaca

We have a friend who calls daily to report and get advice on treatment.  He knows we read about it and follow what is happening in the world.  We were following patients in a village near Oaxaca where he works.  Three days ago he mentioned he had three patients aged 40 (male) and two females aged 65 and 70 who had difficulties breathing.  He did not find a hospital to place them and he treated them at home.  Saturation in the 80’s without oxygen.  It was not possible to find oxygen at home for them and he decided to keep them walking and moving around their home as much as possible.  We told him what Christian Drosten thinks about the problem when the virus reaches the lungs; the circulation system should resist at this stage.  The first stage was passed already, the virus reached the lungs.  The protocol for admission in a hospital in Oaxaca says that the patient returns home in ashes or in a wheelchair accompanied by medical personnel. They do not see family during hospitalization.  Most of the patients prefer to live the experience at home.

We discussed the protocol previously regarding the use of steroids and antibiotics with our friend.  We mentioned a New York report where they did not find a positive culture for bacteria when treated with antivirals, but my friend decided to give Azithromycin because it is difficult to trust cultures and the patients looked too sick.  He decided to give steroids at this point of the infection because the patient is already experiencing a cytokine storm; this is what we know as in the case of meningeal tuberculosis.  Antivirals were given at the same time, availability and price were the reason for choosing them.  Three days later after treatment, the patient’s oxygen saturation is in the 90´s and the patients looked much improved.  Five family members were positive for coronavirus and they were asymptomatic.

Why here and why triathlon?  We work with triathletes and the problem with family members is there.  At the same time, we have not a place to publish this experience.  This experience gives more hope about the survival of patients and it worries our team members less about the situation.  It raises more questions about hospitalization and treatment modalities.  We did not have any other option any way, the hospitals are full and they have their own problems to be of any help.  The authorities continue to lie about what is happening or they are so mediocre to think they are doing a good job.