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Hello, I just sent in a question but realized I should have provided more information. My husband, who is 80 with congestive heart disease, was recently hospitalized. When visiting him at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, I caught Covid (I wasn't anywhere else that week). We are both fully vaccinated and boosted. I am 74 and have no underlying conditions. I was prescribed Paxlovid on Day 2 of symptoms. The hospital released my husband into my care while I was still ill with a severe sore throat and congestion, and he was still unable to breathe normally, so with some screaming on my part, we were able to get my husband placed in a rehab where he is stable and tests negative. Those two days were, as you might imagine, extremely stressful. I seemed to get better on Day 9, a faint test, but rebounded the next day. I asked about more Paxlovid but was denied. It is now Day 14, I still test very positive, my sole symptom is a runny nose. My husband is depressed and not eating. Is there anything more that could be done? It is my understanding that a 2nd round of Paxlovid might only be done for immuno-compromised people. But getting me better fast would be the best medicine for my husband.
Viral rebound, which is probably what you are describing with your prolonged symptoms, may occur with or without Paxlovid therapy. To date, the viral rebound has not been associated with progression to severe COVID-19 disease. There are insufficient data on whether a longer course or a second course of Paxlovid will prevent viral rebound or symptom recurrence. The best course of action is that you wear a well-fitting mask and improve the ventilation of the indoor space to reduce the risk of your husband to get infected.
