Coronaviruses are animal diseases that can be transmitted from animal to human. Coronavirus disease or Covid 19 is caused by a new strain of coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) which has not been noticed to have infected any human before.
The clinical representation of the disease is an acute respiratory infection, it is first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. WHO announced that a novel coronavirus has been detected from the sample taken from those infected patients. The world has seen a rapid escalation of the situation as it spreads widely all over the world.
On March 11, 2020, WHO declares Covid 19 as a pandemic and since then clinical trials and investigations to determine its origin, management, and how it affects the human is ongoing.
But notwithstanding, there are breakthroughs recorded since the first time of inception of the virus such as determining its symptoms, its management, and lately the production of vaccination to guide against the virus infecting humans. Check here for Sacramento rapid COVID-19 testing services. Ever wonder how scientists today study a disease or virus to immediately know its effects and how it would evolve? One way is through the gain of function research. Read more at My BioSource.
Below are the symptoms of Coronavirus
Patients with mild clinical presentation of the virus may not require hospitalization i.e that is the detection of the symptoms earlier during the incubation period which is 14 days may necessarily not warrant patients being subsequently hospitalized but such patients must self isolate themselves or quarantined and treated.
Some factors worsen the symptoms to the stage of severity which are old age, underlying medical conditions such as lung disease, asthma, liver disease, renal disease, cancer, heart failure, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and all other chronic diseases.
Prompt medical attention should be sought if the patient has difficulty breathing, persistent pain, or chest pressure, inability to stay awake or bluish lips and faces.
The following may be presumed as the symptoms of coronavirus
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sputum production
- Malaise
- Respiratory distress
Acute condition of coronavirus may give the following symptoms, viz; respiratory failure, shock, or multi-organ dysfunction.
While in the instance of complication, the following may be noticed:
- Hypoxemic respiratory failure/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
- Sepsis and septic shock.
- Acute kidney injury.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Acute bacterial infections
There are asymptomatic patients of coronavirus who exhibit none of the above symptoms but are infected with the virus and keep on infecting others till the situation degenerates into series of complications.
Management Of Coronavirus
Coronavirus can be managed in the following ways according to the severity of the infection.
Mild Coronavirus Infection
- Stay at home or self-isolation.
- Limiting contact with others through social distancing protocols.
- Wearing facemask when around others.
- Washing of hands with soap and water for at least 30 seconds and usage of hand sanitizer with at least 65% alcohol content.
- Avoiding touching of eyes, nose, and mouth.
- And lastly, cleaning of surfaces with wipes and sprays.
Severe or Acute Coronavirus Infection
Clinical management for severe or acute coronavirus patients is based on supportive care of complications, this includes organ support for respiratory failure.
Patients with an acute case of coronavirus should be placed in an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR). Supplemental oxygen therapy is to be administered immediately to those who have a severe acute respiratory infection and respiratory distress.
Drugs proven to reduce the effects of the coronavirus are to be administered. Lately, there is vaccination against the virus infection.