97-year-old woman beats Covid-19 with home isolation

Kantaben Parikh at her home in Andheri

On the first day of the New Year, Kantaben Parikh's temperature shot up, leaving her family members worried. The 97-year-old had contracted Covid. Despite her age, her family went for home isolation and frequently took medical advice, helping Kantaben recover in 10 days. The Andheri resident is among several senior citizens who have managed to beat the infection with home quarantine, unlike the first two waves.

Kantaben's son Prabodh Parikh told mid-day, "She had a high-grade fever, body ache and cough on January 1 morning. We immediately tested her and she turned positive." Prabodh, 76, said his mother was to take her first vaccine dose that day as a nearby clinic had agreed to come home for the jab.

"We had been trying hard to get her vaccinated at home but couldn't manage. Her doctors had advised us against taking her out. Throughout the pandemic, we were more than cautious but still, she tested positive," said Mitra, her daughter-in-law.

The Parikh family has two more members above the age of 60 - Mitra's mother, Smriti, 87, and her caretaker Ashok, 62. All four of them ensured that they, in their distinctive ways, remained positive and kept Kantaben's spirits up, while also taking care of each other in such a delicate moment.

"Everyone else at home was also above 60 years but fortunately we all had tested negative for the infection. Our domestic help was positive. And both my mother and she got quarantined at home," said Prabodh, an academician.

He added, "We were a bit worried because she is prone to pneumonia. She is otherwise healthy and independent. Throughout the period of infection, despite having a fever of about 100, she tried to retain her love for food and rested well."

Kantaben has a piece of advice for those who may contract the infection. "What helps defeat such a deadly scare at this age is a cocktail of a happy home, healthy habits and positive attitude of the people around." This time, many senior citizens have managed to beat the infection with home quarantine which was not an option during the first two waves.

Dr Rahul Pandit, director-critical care at Fortis Hospitals and national Covid-19 task force member, said, "Most of the senior citizens have done well because of being vaccinated. We haven't seen any severe form of infection in them in this wave. We have also observed that they have been taking good care of themselves. It is important for everyone to get vaccinated."

Dr Avinash Supe, ex-director of BMC tertiary care hospitals and the head of the state Covid-19 death audit committee, said it is commendable that a 97-year-old has recovered. "It is happy to know she has beaten the infection. Many senior citizens had upper respiratory tract infection in Covid-19 this time and have come out well."