Covid swab test

Recently, several areas in the red zone of COVID-19 infection in Indonesia conducted random COVID-19 swab tests. One of the public facilities that provide this test which is also called RT-PCR is a train station.

According to a number of people following the procedure, the COVID-19 swab test causes pain and tingling. Is that right?

The COVID-19 swab test doesn't hurt, but…

Source: Health.mil

One of the keys to suppressing the spread of COVID-19 is to carry out large-scale testing. This is so that health workers can determine who has been infected, thus helping to monitor the process of virus transmission occurring in an area.

The test for the COVID-19 examination itself is divided into two types, namely rapid test which became the initial screening method and RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction). Compared with rapid test , RT-PCR or swab tests are called more accurate even though the results come out longer.

In Indonesia, the swab test is normally done in a hospital. However, several times the government in regions with a large number of cases conducted swab tests at public facilities, such as stations.

According to several people carrying out checks at the station, they admitted to feeling tingly and sick. In fact, the COVID-19 swab test can cause an uncomfortable sensation, so it does not rule out causing pain or tingling.

The sensation of pain and tingling may occur when the swab is inserted into one or both nostrils and is rotated several times. As a result, the swab test kit is inserted into the area causing a little pain and tingling.

COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData

1,024,298

Confirmed

831,330

Recovered

28,855

DeathDistribution Map

The COVID-19 swab test (RT-PCR) procedure

Some of you may feel pain after undergoing a swab test to diagnose COVID-19 in the body. However, you don't need to worry because this uncomfortable sensation can happen to anyone considering the examination procedure is such.

Reporting from The New England Journal of Medicine , testing for COVID-19 by taking saliva and fluid samples from the respiratory throat is the most common procedure.

Normally, a swab test does not cause significant pain or side effects. However, patients who have had trauma or nose jobs may need to notify the doctor or health worker who took the sample.

At the time of the swab test procedure, the patient is asked to remove the mask, whether he is suspected of being infected or not. After that, the doctor will ask the patient to remove the mask and exhale like blowing mucus into a tissue.

This aims to remove excess glands from the nasal passages. Then, you will be asked to tilt your head back slightly so that the nasal passages are more accessible.

In addition, you are also asked to close your eyes so that the pain when the device enters the nose is reduced.

Then, a flexible swab with a long shaft will go into the nostril. If the doctor finds it difficult to get through the nasal passages, they will try to re-insert the swab at a different angle.

Pain or tingling from the swab test may occur because it needs to reach the same length as the distance from the nostril to the outer ear opening. The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends leaving the swab in the nasal passages for a few seconds so that the fluid can be absorbed.

What's more, when removing the tool the doctor will slowly rotate it in the same place. As a result, not a few of the patients who undergo the swab test procedure experience an uncomfortable sensation.

That way, doctors and other health workers can treat patients with suspected COVID-19 to track the spread of the virus.

Locations for COVID-19 swab tests in Indonesia

As previously explained, most of the swab tests for COVID-19 checks are carried out in hospitals. However, recently tests have been carried out in public places, such as markets or stations to reduce the spread of the virus.

For people who want to undergo a swab test, especially in Indonesia, there is currently a list of referral hospitals that provide this examination. If you want to do the swab independently, try to contact the hospital first.

After that, the results of the examination from the hospital will be sent to 12 laboratories that have been stipulated in the Decree of the Minister of Health Number HK.01.07MENKES / 182/2020.

The method of examining COVID-19 in the form of a swab test does cause a painful or uncomfortable sensation. These sensations usually don't last long, so you don't need to worry if everything is according to the prescribed procedure.