Caller · moment 6 of 11

Symptoms, Treatment, and Whether Comedy Shows Should Even Happen

from Emergency Broadcast - Corona Call-Ins

4 min

Caller

Dr. Steve details fever, cough, and pneumonia symptoms, explains supportive ventilator treatment, and Tim presses him on whether comedy shows and travel are reckless right now given cancellations across the medical field.

In this bit7 moments
  • Fever, cough, and shortness of breath are the main symptoms, with infection moving from upper to lower respiratory tract causing pneumonia.
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs might actually accelerate the virus, so treatment is supportive—ventilators until the body clears it on its own.
  • Tim worries the real disruption is to travel, jobs, and large gatherings, though some people can work from home.
  • Medical conferences and his wife's business meeting have both been canceled.
  • If immunity holds after infection, people won't get it twice, though a universal flu vaccine could end influenza entirely within five years.
  • At 35, the doctor's mortality risk is 0.2 percent, but Tim still thinks doing comedy shows right now seems crazy and stupid.
  • Air travel and large gatherings seem unnecessary; Tim suggests everyone should just chill for two months.
Mentioned here

Dr. Steve

All 11 moments in this episode →