Day 5 Of Lockdown #COVID- 19

My entire series of these 21 days will be based on my experience of being in this lockdown and staying home as a first-time mother of a 5-month-old baby, Anvay. 

Dear Diary, 

Today morning when Anvay woke up we saw that the rashes on his face had increased. There were more rashes in his chin area and his cheeks which I felt could be because of us wiping out his drool constantly. I had also read about the same in the BabyCenter App that I follow. Since Yd and I were not able to differentiate whether it was an allergy or just a drool we did not want to take chances. We were worried if we could go to the hospital taking the baby for a consultation as last week my pediatrician had messaged me not to come for any consultation unless it was necessary. His routine weight gain check-up was also postponed. So, Yd said why not WhatsApp the picture of the rashes to the pediatrician and ask her opinion. I am so glad that doctors are helping us out by giving their clinical opinion on WhatsApp when we are unable to visit them no matter how busy they are. Baby’s doctor suggested we apply Lacto-calamine but also suggested we visit the OPD the next day because she wanted to be sure before recommending any other solution. Doctors are the most important frontline warriors rendering their support and risking their lives for humanity by their service even in times of a pandemic.

Technology has also enabled doctors to give their clinical advice in the right way. Many renowned hospitals like the Manipal group of hospitals are allowing video-call consultations and Apps like Practo and Phable have seen a good rise in the number of online consultations for problems that can be explained over a chat with the doctor. I had a stomach-ache and severe diarrhea so I went to Practo and within minutes I was able to consult a doctor online and get a prescription for medicines that could be safe for use by a lactating mother. Thanks to the location of our house where we have medical shops close by, Yd could get the medicines within 15 minutes. I guess after this lockdown more patients, who have some minor health concerns might take up these online consultations, helping the doctors in easing their crowded OPD/ clinic consultations, thus making room for important cases and also save commute time for patients.