COVID-19

Overview

Covid-19, more often referred to as coronavirus before the 2019 pandemic, is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This virus first appeared in late 2019 and spread quickly over the world, starting a global pandemic. It’s important to bear in mind that in the scientific world, the term refers to the broader family of coronaviruses, including those that cause common colds and other minor illnesses. However, SARS-CoV-2 is different, and it can cause more serious respiratory infections. How long the virus continue to affect us is uncertain, however, with some public efforts, researchers' virus studies, treatment searches, and vaccine success we can only hope to prevent it.

What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus triggering the respiratory tract infection. In early 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a new type of coronavirus. The outbreak in 2020 spread quickly across the world killing millions. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill.

Some individuals, even those with minor or no symptoms, will develop Post-COVID Conditions, also known as "Long COVID." The virus can also be transmitted through close contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces and then your face. Most people with minor illness recover without special care, while older adults and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to experience serious illness and complications.

Variants of COVID-19
Throughout the pandemic, scientists have closely monitored variants such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Eta, Iota, Kappa, Omicron, N/A, Mu, and Zeta. SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven types of coronaviruses, including those causing severe diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The other coronaviruses primarily cause common colds, which are not a serious threat to otherwise healthy individuals.

Past examples of variants have included the Alpha, Delta and Beta variants While Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants of COVID-19 all first appeared in late 2020, they were very different from one another. Alpha was proven to be somewhat more contagious, with the potential to produce a little more severe illness and a significantly lower efficiency of vaccination against minor infections.

Beta, with similar transmissibility, showed reduced vaccine effectiveness but no clear severity increase. Delta, the most transmissible, had the potential for increased severity and reduced vaccine effectiveness against mild/moderate cases. Now, Alpha is no longer a concern, Beta is monitored, and Delta is downgraded due to lower circulation and Omicron's rise.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 experience a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe, which may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms can initially be mild but may progress to more severe illness in some individuals. The following list is not exhaustive, as symptoms may change with new COVID-19 variants and can vary depending on vaccination status. Possible symptoms include:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble breathing
• Fatigue
• Chills, sometimes with shaking
• Body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Congestion/runny nose
• Loss of smell or taste
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

The symptoms can vary and be unique for every individual and are very similar to those of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. While most people feel better within a few weeks, recovery can sometimes take longer. For some, it can be a more serious illness with symptoms lasting even longer.

If you or dear ones experience severe symptoms such as trouble breathing, ongoing chest pain or pressure, confusion, inability to fully wake up, or bluish lips or face, seek medical help immediately. If you or your child exhibit symptoms like a high temperature or feel too unwell to engage in normal activities, stay home and avoid contact with others. You can resume your usual activities once you feel better or no longer have a high temperature which is mostly after 7-14 days.

Causes of Coronavirus disease

The virus primarily spreads through individuals exhibiting symptoms, but it can also be transmitted by those who are asymptomatic. People who are infected but do not show symptoms may still spread COVID-19 to others. This form of transmission, known as asymptomatic spread, is significant because individuals unaware of their infection can unknowingly pass the virus along. Experts believe that person-to-person transmission is the main mode of spreading COVID-19, occurring through various methods as follows:

Transmission Method Description Details

• Droplet Transmission Spread through droplets and aerosols from an infected person’s mouth or nose. Droplets are emitted when coughing, sneezing, talking, singing, or breathing. Can be inhaled by those within 6 feet.
• Short-Range Aerosol Transmission Aerosols inhaled at short range. Particles remain suspended in the air and are breathed in by those nearby.
• Long-Range Aerosol Transmission Spread in poorly ventilated or crowded indoor settings. Aerosols can travel farther than conversational distance and remain suspended in the air.
• Surface Transmission Spread through contact with contaminated surfaces. Virus can live on surfaces like plastic and stainless steel for 2 to 3 days. Infection occurs by touching the face after contact with contaminated surfaces.
• Fecal-Oral Transmission Possible spread through contact with infected stool. Virus particles may be present in feces, but the exact transmission route is not fully understood. Handwashing is crucial to prevent potential spread.

When the virus enters the body, it hijacks the cell's machinery to produce more copies of itself, rapidly increasing the number of infectious particles. The immune system responds by detecting these invaders and launching a counterattack. White blood cells work to engulf and destroy infected cells, while other immune cells produce antibodies to neutralize the virus. This battle often causes inflammation, leading to symptoms such as fever, cough, and fatigue. The severity of the illness depends on both the immune response and the viral load.

In most cases, the immune system effectively clears the virus within weeks, resulting in a mild illness. However, individuals with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions may face severe complications like pneumonia and respiratory failure.

Even after the initial infection resolves, some people continue to experience symptoms like exhaustion, brain fog, or shortness of breath—a condition referred to as "Long COVID." The exact mechanisms behind these persistent effects are still being actively researched.

Who is at most risk?
Your body’s reaction to contracting coronavirus may vary greatly depending on the following factors:

Age: As people age, their chance of sickness rises. Individuals over 65 years of age, in particular, are far more susceptible to problems such as pneumonia and respiratory failure. This susceptibility results from the aging-related decrease in immunological function.

Pre-existing medical issues: People who have weaker immune systems, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung illness, or other underlying medical conditions are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19. These ailments may make it more difficult for the body to successfully fight off the infection.

Socioeconomic factors: Risks are higher for those who are poor, live in cramped quarters, or have poor access to healthcare. This vulnerability is exacerbated by poor nutrition, underlying health inequities, and difficulties getting testing and treatment.

Ethnicity-Based Setbacks: In certain countries with marginalized ethnicities or social groups (such as the caste system), the COVID-19 results show significant differences in these groups, due to the quality of care received. These discrepancies are a result of systemic injustices in occupational exposures, healthcare access, and socioeconomic determinants of health. Hospitalization needs, infection rates, and death are frequently greater in these minority groups.

Pregnant women: If infected, they may face difficulties including low birth weight or early birth, but overall, they are not at higher risk of serious sickness when compared to otherwise healthy adults of the same age.

Children: Although children are less likely than adults to get major illnesses, problems can still emerge, especially in children who have underlying medical conditions. In addition, children who get COVID-19 may also acquire multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), an uncommon but serious illness.

Tests and Treatments for COVID-19

Viral tests detect a current SARS-CoV-2 infection by analyzing specimens from the nose or mouth. There are two main types of viral tests:

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Tests
PCR tests, considered the "gold standard" for COVID-19 testing, are a type of nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). They are more reliable in detecting the virus compared to antigen tests. A healthcare provider typically collects your sample, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. Results may take up to three days.

Antigen Tests
Antigen tests are rapid tests that usually produce results within 15-30 minutes. Positive results from antigen tests are accurate and reliable. However, these tests are generally less sensitive than PCR tests, especially when no symptoms are present. Therefore, a negative antigen test cannot definitively rule out infection.

Treatment
While COVID-19 symptoms range from mild to life-threatening, treatment strategies adapt accordingly:

Mild Cases: With supportive treatment, the majority of patients with mild illnesses recover at home. Fever and pains can be treated with over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Discomfort can be reduced with rest, fluid intake, and natural therapies such gargling with warm salt water.

Moderate to Severe Cases: Hospitals provide a range of solutions for individuals in need of further assistance. When used early, antiviral drugs such as Molnupiravir or Paxlovid can decrease the length of sickness and lower the risk of serious consequences. While oxygen therapy aids in the management of breathing issues, severe cases of inflammation can be treated with corticosteroids. Intravenous antiviral medication Remdesivir is occasionally administered to hospitalized patients.

It’s important to remember research on additional treatments has still continued, despite the end of the pandemic. Specifically, in certain situations, monoclonal antibodies—lab-made molecules that imitate immune responses—might be helpful. Future antiviral drugs aim to provide even more choices.

Finally, although there isn't a single treatment for Long COVID, a variety of approaches can assist control its wide spectrum of symptoms. The treatment of weariness, discomfort, and cognitive problems includes physical therapy, rehabilitation, and symptom-specific medicines. For complex cases, multidisciplinary clinics provide specialist care.

Managing Early Signs of Infection
Experiencing early symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 can be unsettling, but knowing how to manage them effectively can make a significant difference. Here are a few immediate steps you can take to protect yourself and those around you:

1. Self-Isolation: The first line of defence is to isolate yourself as soon as possible to stop the virus from infecting others. Remain at home and try to limit your interactions with people, including those in your own family. If a separate room and bathroom are available, use them instead.

2. Pay Close Attention to Symptoms: Pay special attention to symptoms such as fever, cough, exhaustion, and loss of taste or smell. Keep track of their length and severity to guide future actions. For precise fever tracking, use a thermometer.

3. Rest and Hydration: Keep sleep as your first priority so that your body can fight against the infection. Drink plenty of fluids, such as soup, water, or electrolyte-rich drinks, to stay hydrated.

4. Over-the-Counter Drugs: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are two examples of over-the-counter drugs that can be used to treat fever, aches, and pains. Pay attention to dosage guidelines and any possible drug interactions.

5. Home Remedies: Soothing sore throats and coughs with warm salt water gargles or home-made cough syrups can offer comfort. Humidifiers can ease congestion by adding moisture to the air.

6. Seek Medical Attention: You should visit a doctor right away if you have breathing problems, a high temperature that doesn't go down (above 103°F), confusion, chest pain, or worsening symptoms. In severe cases, early intervention may be essential.

7. Testing: Getting tested confirms the diagnosis and directs additional treatment, particularly if you have worrying symptoms or are at high risk. For advice, get in touch with your physician or a nearby testing institution.

8. Public health measures: If you must be around people, such as while using a shared restroom, wear a mask that fits well even when you are alone. To stop the infection from spreading, clean regularly touched surfaces on a regular basis.

Prevention of COVID-19

The CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older to significantly reduce the risk of severe illness and death. Currently, three vaccines are available in the US: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax. While the specific number of doses varies based on age and individual health conditions, generally, younger children require more doses. It's essential to complete the recommended vaccine series for optimal protection.

People with weakened immune systems or those who have started the Novavax vaccine series should continue with the same vaccine type. Although different vaccines can be mixed for those aged 5 and older with typical immune systems, the CDC often recommends sticking to the same vaccine for consistency.

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