As the rise in COVID cases in India outpaces the healthcare system, so has the desperation to know more and 'try everything' gone up.
With medical advice, tips, and recommendations flooding social media, it can be hard to sift solid facts from the husk.
We've seen this with treatments like Remdesivir, Ivermectin and plasma therapy.
But it's not just these, there has also been an ulterior surge in the indiscriminate use of CT scans to diagnose COVID.
The catch, though, is the cost of CT scans aren't capped or moderated the way other COVID tests, a factor that can turn its use exploitative.
Moreover, except in certain specific cases, not everyone who shows symptoms of COVID need to get a CT scan.
What is the truth about CT scans for COVID testing? When do you really need to get it done? FIT asks Dr Sumit Ray, critical care medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Delhi.
What is a CT scan, and does it help with COVID detection?
According to the Mayo Clinic, CT—or computerized tomography—scans are a series of cross-sectional images created using multiple X-rays and computer processing.
CT scans typically provide more detailed information, not only about bones, but also of the blood vessels and soft tissues inside your body, and are used to detect internal injury.
In patients of COVID-19, Chest CT scans can help detect COVID-pneumonia (a sign the infection has turned severe), and other abnormalities in the lungs related to COVID.
But, "diagnosing COVID is not its primary purpose," says Dr Sumit Ray.
Why are CT scans being prescribed to diagnose COVID then?
RT-PCRs are the most widely used mode of detecting the infection in a person, but questions have been raised about its accuracy.
Though RT-PCR tests are considered the 'gold standard' in COVID testing by healthcare experts, it is known to render false negative readings now and then.
False negative results occur when a person who is experiencing all telltale symptoms of covid tests negative for the infection. This can be because of a string of different reasons we've explained here.
With the RT-PCR tests there is also the question of whether variants of the COVID virus can slip through these tests.
Although, the DG of ICMR among other health experts have ruled out this possibility, saying,
“RT-PCR test is gold standard, we measure two genes or more, therefore, there is no chance of missing detection of any mutant.”Dr Balram Bhargava, Director-General, ICMR
There could also be other reasons for tests results showing false negatives. For instance, if the sample is not collected, stored or transported properly, it could mess with the results.
"All tests historically have a certain amount of false negatives, and that is true of COVID tests too," says Dr Sumit Ray.
For this reason experts may sometimes recommend getting a combination of RT-PCR, X-Ray and CT scans to rule out other illnesses.
But that being said, not everyone who gets COVID has to get a CT scan.
"CT scans can help with diagnosis, but that is not the primary purpose of a CT, and it is important to know this because that way you can avoid a lot of CT scans."Dr Sumit Ray, critical care medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Delhi
"CT should be used to see the severity of the illness, and that too if the severity is persistent," emphasises Dr Ray.
When should you get a CT scan?
Dr Ray talks about the importance of context when it comes to any medical treatment.
"CT scans too are only useful in specific contexts," and in the case of COVID, "this context is the severity of the infection," he says.
"There is no blanket guideline about whether CT should be done or not done. It will depend on a combination of factors including the doctor's clinical judgement, the tests already done and also the patient's requirements."Dr Sumit Ray, critical care medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Delhi
According to Dr Ray, "CT is to be used to gauge the severity of the infection and the level of support the patient will need."
"If the doctor suspects worsening of the condition, or suspects other conditions such as blood clotting in the lungs, fibrosis in the lungs."
In a hospital setting, according to Dr Ray, CT scan may be required in case of,
High grade fever persistent for over 6 -7 days.
High Inflammatory markers.
Worsening oxygen levels, and worsening breathlessness.
But even under these circumstances, he emphasises that a CT may not be required.
"The doctor should make the clinical judgement on the potential of the person to deteriorate," he adds.
What should you know before getting a CT scan if you have COVID?
To break it down further,
A CT scan is just an imagery technique, and not a test.
This means that a chest CT scan can reveal certain chest abnormalities that may be a result of COVID, but these alone are not enough to diagnose COVID like in the case of swab tests that are designed to detect a specific infection.
CT scans can also show false negatives
As Dr Ray mentioned before, no test is foolproof.
Especially given that not all COVID patients will have abnormalities in the lungs and chest, and not having them pop up on CT scans does not rule out COVID.
In fact, most patients of COVID will not have any abnormalities in the chest.
For this reason, he recommends treating patients with relevant symptoms as COVID patients, no matter what the test results say, until definitive evidence is established.
CT scans should be done under specific conditions only
As mentioned, CT scans can be very helpful in getting to the bottom of why a patient's condition may be deteriorating, and should be done only in severe cases, taking the specific symptoms of the patient into consideration.
"In a OPD setting, very rarely would a patient need a CT scan," says Dr Ray.
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