ASK YOUR DOCTOR

How effective are self-testing kits for COVID-19 pandemic virus?

— K Kalyani, Adyar

Since the beginning of this year, the positive cases are more pronounced as it has increased by 50 per cent at present. Therefore, the pressure on the testing labs is also increasing. The test positive rates too had gone up in different districts of Tamil Nadu and Chennai. However, so far we didn’t have any issue dealing with numbers as we are adequately staffed to process. The self-testing kits are not as accurate as testing labs due to their low sensitivity and specificity. But with these kits, people are testing themselves positive, and we have noticed that due to this, the number of people visiting hospitals has increased.

— Dr Saranya Narayanan, Technical Director & Chief Microbiologist, Neuberg Diagnosticsv

How successful are intestine transplants?

— M Vishnupriya, Choolai

Usually, children lose only a small portion of the intestine due to volvulus. We medically manage the child in our small intestine rehabilitation unit for the remaining intestine to gradually regain function and to start processing food normally. However, when someone loses their entire small intestine to volvulus, and if there is no chance for rehabilitation. Hence the small intestine will be removed, and nutrients were put directly into their bloodstream intravenously in liquid form. When the intestine is transplanted the person will return to normal life.

— Dr Naresh Shanmugam, Senior Consultant Children liver and gastro speciali st, Rela Hospital