A COVID-19 Guide

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19, which is a short name for the coronavirus disease, 2019, is the medical condition caused by a new strain of the coronavirus. Scientists named this new strain of the virus – SARS-CoV-2 or novel coronavirus. It belongs to the same family of coronaviruses that are previously responsible for causing outbreaks of diseases like sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Scientists have never seen this new strain of the virus in humans before the viral outbreak of late 2019. In December of 2019, they get the first reported case of the SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 from the Wuhan province of China.

The disease spread fast after the initial outbreak in China, and within a few months, it traveled almost everywhere in the world. On 11th March 2020, WHO (the world health organization) declared COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic.

COVID-19 is a dangerous condition because it triggers a respiratory tract infection that can have adverse effects on a person’s upper and lower respiratory tracts. People with COVID-19 can experience problems in their sinuses, throat, lungs, nose, and windpipe. COVID-19 disease primarily spreads through human contact, and those who get infected with this disease might experience symptoms that can range from mild inconveniences to life-threatening problems.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The symptoms of COVID-19 do not show up immediately, making this disease more dangerous because a person might infect others without knowing that they are infected. It takes about 2 to 14 days from the time of exposure for the symptoms to manifest.

The COVID-19 symptoms also vary from person to person. Some people may experience only mild symptoms, while others can feel severe signs of this disease. In some instances, a person might test positive for COVID-19 but do not exhibit any symptoms.

Common signs of COVID-19 include:

• Fatigue
• Congestion or runny nose
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Headache
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Confusion
• Fever or chills
• Trouble staying awake
• Diarrhea
• Bluish lips or face
• Persistent pressure or pain in the chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle or body aches
• Loss of smell or taste
• Shortness of breath

Coronavirus infection can cause respiratory failure, septic shock, pneumonia, or death. Cytokine storm or cytokine release syndrome is responsible for most of the COVID-19 complications. Once the virus enters the body, it triggers the immune system to release an excessive amount of inflammatory proteins called cytokines into the blood. These cytokines can kill the tissue and damage the organs.

The following symptoms require immediate medical attention. Ignoring these signs might result in severe complications, including death.

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Inability to stay fully awake
• New confusion
• Blush face or lips
• Continuous chest pain or pressure on the chest

COVID-19 might also cause stroke in some people; the sings of which include:

Face – one side might feel numb or dropping. The smile becomes lopsided.
Speech – voice becomes unclear. Difficulty repeating sentences
Arms – one arm becomes numb or weak. One arm will sag while raising both the arms.

What prevention measures can we take for COVID-19?

Following the instructions of medical authority and the government can help you from getting infected with the coronavirus and catching COVID-19. Following are the things you can do to protect against the infection:

• Keep 3 feet or 1-meter distance from people when you are out. The virus travels by droplets that a person ejects by sneezing or coughing, so keeping distance is the best way of not getting these droplets in your nose, mouth, or eyes.
• Try not to touch your nose, eyes, or your mouth. Coronavirus can live on the surface and transmit through contact. If you touch a place where the virus was present, it will get transferred to your hand, and by touching yourself, you can quickly move it from outside to the inside of your body.
• To kill the virus before it reaches inside your body, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer or water and soap to wash your hands several times.
• You can also limit going to crowded places to avoid getting infected. In a crowded area, people are more likely to come in close contact, which can incase the risk of spreading the virus.
• Try to wear a mask if you have to go outside. It will limit the chances of exposure.
• If you feel unwell, like having a cold or fever, don’t go to work or school, stay at home until you feel okay.
• If you have to visit a doctor, wear a mask, and avoid using public transport. It is also essential to inform the doctor about your symptoms before visiting.
• Be in touch with the sources of information regarding the virus. Try to get the latest information about the situation from your local and national health authorities. Also, keep tabs on what organizations like WHO and CDC are saying about COVID-19.

The guidelines and preventative measures are continuously evolving. Having access to the latest information is the key to protect yourself from this virus.

What treatments are available for COVID-19?

Researchers are working hard to find a viable treatment for COVID-19. Many pharmaceutical companies are running clinical trials for various drugs to find the medication that can prove effective against the COVID-19 infection, but there is no vaccine available to fight coronavirus. Till there is a vaccine, taking proper precautions is the best bet against the coronavirus infection.

Though there is no proper treatment for COVID-19, doctors recommend taking over the counter medications for mild symptoms like body aches, fever, sore throat, etc. The National Institute of Health indicates people who have COVID-19 can use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen to treat COVID-19 symptoms.

People with severe symptoms should not self medicate. They require professional medical care and should visit a hospital, as these places have the equipment that might come in handy if their situation worsens. Being under the supervision of doctors can also help them recover quickly.

FDA has permitted various clinical trials for drugs like tocilizumab, hydroxychloroquine, and chloroquine to test their effectiveness against the symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

FDA also allows the clinical trial and hospital use of plasma therapy. In this treatment, doctors take the plasma from the people who have recovered from COVID-19, as their immune system produces antibodies that might help fight the coronavirus infection. Doctors give plasma to people who have COVID-19 to build immunity.