Coronavirus COVID-19 Outbreak
What is Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from a common cold to severe respiratory diseases. A virus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
WHO has begun referring the virus SARS-CoV-2 to “COVID-19 virus” when communicating with the public as from a risk communications perspective, using the name SARS can have unintended consequences in terms of creating unnecessary fear for some populations, especially in Asia which was worst affected by the SARS outbreak in 2003.
How it infects Human?
- Virus through the nose and mouth
- It then finds a host cell in the respiratory system
- The host cell then bursts and infects other cells
Symptoms
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Sore Throat
- High Temperature
How it spreads?
COVID-19 first spread to humans from an animal thought to be a bat at Wuhan South China Seafood Wholesale Market. The virus is transmitted between humans touching up to 3 feet or shaking hands with an already infected person or object and his or her mouth, nose or eye.
How can it kill?
Most victims of the virus die from complications including pneumonia and swelling in the lungs.
The virus also causes swelling in the respiratory system, which can make it hard for the lungs to pass oxygen into the bloodstream leading to organ failure and death.
Severe pneumonia can kill people by causing them to ‘drown’ in the fluid flooding their lungs
Where and how did the infection start?
The first known and reported case emerged from the Chinese city of Wuhan in December Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and humans.
Do’s and Don’ts to keep the disease at bay:
Do’s
- Maintain good personal hygiene.
- Practice covering your mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing.
- Make a frequent habit to wash hands with soap or alcohol-based hand rub.
- In case of respiratory symptoms such as cough or running nose, make a practice to wear a mask.
- Avoid being in close contact, public gathering, and close proximity when you are experiencing cough and fever.
- In case you feel symptoms pertaining to severe respiratory issues, don’t delay in seeking medical help.
Don’ts
- Don’t travel if not feeling well.
- Avoid traveling to cities or countries of epidemic viral infection farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered.
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness, such as cough, running nose, etc.
- Avoid consumption of raw/undercooked meats.
- Make a distance with live animals who could be the carrier of the virus.
What are the Treatments for COVID19?
There is no current evidence from Randomized Controlled Trial (RCTs) to recommend any specific anti-COVID-19 treatment for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. There is no vaccine, drug or treatment for COVID-19? Not yet. To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. However, those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illness should be hospitalized. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care.
What are the early supportive therapies that are being provided to infected patients in the hospital?
- Immediate supplemental oxygen therapy is given to patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and respiratory distress, hypoxemia, or shock.
- Use of conservative fluid management in patients with SARI when there is no evidence of shock.
- Use of empiric antimicrobials to treat all likely pathogens causing SARI.
Coronavirus COVID-19 Outbreak
Myth Busters
Reference:
As information provided by Drug Information centre, http://www.gujaratpharmacycouncil.org/
Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it, https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it
Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19) https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
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