“One of the presentations of COVID may be silent hypoxia, when people are unaware they are deprived of oxygen and yet they are functioning,” said Dr. Hussein Kiliddar, a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Crozer-Keystone Health System outside Philadelphia. “These people have oxygen readings that normally should be above 92 [%] but now have readings in the 80s. They may be breathing faster, but they only start to be concerned when they find themselves getting tired from the increased effort required to breathe.”…
Usually when oxygen levels are sufficiently low, it may become obvious to the sufferer if they have a lung condition that causes symptoms. But doctors in hospitals from coast to coast told ABC News they’re concerned about patients suspected of being positive for coronavirus who may be walking around with low oxygen saturation levels without knowing it.
Dr. Jeffrey Moon, medical director for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s emergency department, said his department has seen “people coming in with COVID who are less symptomatic than we would expect given their low oxygen levels.” Moon said he saw one patient Monday who was talking to him “in full sentences” despite having a pulse oxygenation level of just 55%.
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