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Dr. Carlos Colás is the head of Allergology at the Clinical Hospital in Zaragoza, he has also been sick with coronavirus and is now a donor.
Things are not said, things are done. And when they are done, they are said... Suffer from the disease, recover, return to the chopping block on the front line of the pandemic and donate plasma to rescue the sick. There are no more preambles: Carlos Colás Sanz, head of the Allergology Service at the Lozano Blesa Clinical Hospital.
Patient, doctor, donor... What profile would you highlight about yourself?
Certainly, in a short space of time, I have developed all these profiles: I was infected with coronavirus, I have returned to work at the hospital and now I donate plasma. If you want, I'll tell you...
Of course, that's what we're here for, so you can tell the readers.
I suffered the contagion. He had a low-grade fever, considerable general malaise, very intense muscle pain, diarrhea, some mild respiratory symptoms, sore throat...
Bad outlook, doctor.
They did several tests on me. When they performed the confirmation test on me, I expected it to be positive because the symptoms were very suggestive and consistent with the coronavirus.
What did you do when you found out about the contagion?
Scrupulously comply with the recommendation to remain isolated at home. I live with my wife and my daughter. I was alone in a room. I was there 14 days. Fortunately, neither my wife nor my daughter have been infected. Everything was good. I was discharged on Dolores Friday and the following Tuesday, after the days of isolation and with the time I had been asymptomatic, they told me at Occupational Risks that I could work. And here I came again, to the hospital.
Admirable.
It's my job. It's my job, my profession. A vocational profession that I feel deep within me. Don't look for more explanations, there aren't any. It's that easy.
Understood. And what about donating your blood plasma?
The plasma transfusion trial involves donating plasma. Since I have already developed antibodies due to my exposure to the disease, I can help patients with serious illnesses overcome the illness. This is a clinical trial, a hypothesis. I am delighted to collaborate.
How was returning to the hospital?
I'm still working on allergies. We have to face the pathologies inherent to allergies and also many consultations for allergies to medications, non-specific skin reactions that we do not know what they correspond to.
Are chilblains an indicator of coronavirus?
There are not many skin lesions that can be associated with coronavirus. It is a vasculitis, lesions that affect the vessels. And, indeed, to some degree they are reminiscent of those caused by chilblains. Until now we have not had patients with these symptoms. I also have to tell you that I have remained in the Allergology section, but half of the department has moved to collaborate on the floors with patients with Covid, Pulmonology or Internal Medicine.
How did you do the distribution?
By age range. Doctors with a lower age range, as they have less risk of developing serious pathologies in case of contagion, are the ones who have moved. The effort being made by healthcare is enormous.
The miracle of the multiplication of beds and ICUs.
Caring for all patients is the priority. I am proud of the healthcare establishment. And I'm not referring exclusively to doctors, but to everyone: from the administrators to the guards, to the nurses... Everyone.
Had he faced an enemy like Covid?
No, for two reasons: one, because it is a pathogen with a high contagion capacity, and two and above all, because it is unknown.
Will we defeat him?
Yes. It takes time and resources. We are on the way.
Europe, the Old Continent, is it a risk patient?
Europe has a high standard of living. Therefore, life expectancy is longer, which translates into greater longevity. And older people are more exposed to developing the disease. I trust and wish that we find a vaccine as soon as possible.
