Coronavirus COVID-19 diseases

The new coronavirus belongs to the family of coronaviruses. Causes of acute respiratory disease Covide-19th.

Coronaviruses form a broad group. However, this new variant managed to penetrate the pandemic. The whole world is afraid of him.

The outbreak began in China, more specifically in Wuhan (which has a population of about 11 million). From China, the virus has spread rapidly around the world since the end of December 2019.

In Europe, more precisely in Italy, a new epicenter has emerged. But, high numbers of infected people are also reported by other countries, such as Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, and so on.

Slovakia reports first case 6.3. 2020.

What are coronaviruses,
what is a new coronavirus and
what is COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses that affect mammals and birds. In humans, they cause common acute respiratory diseases, but also severe forms. 

They can cause various difficulties in animals, such as respiratory diseases in birds and diarrhea in pigs and cattle.

Virus> Riboviria> Nidovirales> Coronaviridae> Orthocoronavirinae.

Facts:

• type (+) ssRNA
• size 120 nm
• the genome is about 30,000 bases
• droplet infection
• zoonotic diseases = spread among animals
• zoonoses - the infection is passed from animal to human
• SARS-COV-2 probably passed from bat to human

The mediator between the transition from bat to human is not known until now. A direct transition is possible, as body parts and bat excrement are used by Chinese folk medicine.

There are 4 known genera of the virus  that cause diseases in  animals  and  humans: 

1. alphacoronavirus  - has several subtypes, in humans, pigs, bats
2. betacoronavirus  - mouse coronavirus, also in humans, bats, camels, rabbits, hedgehogs, and others, includes  SARS, MERS,  or  SARS-CoV-2
3. gamma  coronavirus - avian coronaviruses, cause disease in other animals and humans
4. deltacoronavirus  - avian viruses

References from the 1960s as infectious bronchitis in chickens. 

The virus has a name derived from its appearance. It is round, oval to oblong. Protrusions protrude from the cover, reminiscent of a royal crown and a solar crown.

Human coronaviruses

Coronaviruses cause common, minor acute upper respiratory illnesses in humans known as colds or flu-like illnesses.

However, the second group consists of those that are characterized by a difficultcritical course. The diseases they cause are complicated and can result in death.

In humans, the disease causes 7 subtypes, namely:

1. human coronavirus 229E
2. human coronavirus OC43
3. SARS-CoV  (the year 2002 - 2003)
   • the first of severe CoVs
   • approximately 8098 cases were confirmed
   • 774 victims, which is approximately 9.6% of the death rate
   • SARS  =  Severe acute respiratory syndrome
   • severe acute respiratory distress syndrome = acute respiratory failure syndrome
4. HCoV NL63 (year 2004)
5. HKU1 (year 2005)
6. MERS-CoV  (in 2012)
   • second in order of serious forms
   • Middle East respiratory syndrome = Middle East respiratory syndrome
   • 136 registered patients died 58 infected
   • mortality about 43%
   • by 2017, about 2,000 cases of MERS had been reported
7. SARS-CoV-2  (2019 - 2020)
   • a new coronavirus that can be critical
   • mortality estimated at 2.3% (in clinically proven and confirmed cases)

Thus, they are roughly divided into non-serious and serious forms. SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 are important.

Interesting
fact : The  analysis found that there are two subtypes of SARS-CoV-2. 
Type L = causes 70% of diseases. 
Type S = 30% of cases. 

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 (CoViD-19) from English  Coronavirus disease 2019 = coronavirus disease from 2019 . 

An acute respiratory disease affects the primary upper respiratory tract and can later be complicated by viral pneumonia. 

The course of the disease is asymptomatic, mild,  moderate to critical. When complicated by respiratory failure, multiple organs, and shock, it can result in death. 

COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2.
It is an acute respiratory disease.
It primarily affects the upper respiratory tract.
Here, the virus enters the host cells.

Subsequently, in the case of a more severe course, it extends to the lower respiratory tract and lungs. Bilateral viral pneumonia inductions.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome can be complicated.

The disease was first observed in China at the end of 2019. The city of Wuhan is becoming the epicenter of the spread. 

An initial outbreak is being considered at the Wuhan Market, where humans are in close contact with animals.

In 2020, a pandemic broke out that hit the world. Slovakia is not excluded.

The cause of the spread is droplet infection. 

The virus is spread by coughing, sneezing and close contact, conversation. Because the virus particles are found in the body fluids and mucus of an infected person, the carrier. 

An infected aerosol can contaminate surrounding objects, everyday objects, and other nearby objects from the human environment.

It has been proven that the virus lasts in the air for 30 minutes to 3 hours and can move up to 4.5 meters.

In addition ...

The virus survives for a longer time on materials such as: 
Paper, cardboard 24 hours. 
Plastic up to 5 days. 
Latex (gloves) more than 8 hours.

Direct cough transmission contributes to the spread when a contaminated aerosol enters the body of a healthy person through the nose and mouth.

1 cough expels up to 3,000 droplets of respiratory viruses into the environment,
in the case of COVID-19 disease or influenza.

Risk is also indirect transmission by contaminated hands, and when touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth.

Therefore, hygiene and cleansing of the environment are emphasized in the prevention of the spread.

Symptoms break out after the incubation period.

The incubation time is on average 5 - 6 days. In total, it is set at 1 to 14 days.

The virus causes acute respiratory disease.

COVID-19 is characterized by the main symptoms:

1. fatigue, weakness, malaise
2. pain in the whole body, joints, muscles, head
3. increase in body temperature to fever (body temperature above 38 ° C)
4. chills
5. dry cough
6. difficulty breathing

The disease manifests itself at this stage as other acute respiratory diseases (AROs), examples being influenza and its similar diseases. 

However, there are also other symptoms of the disease. Later, the observation revealed that this was an approximate percentage redistribution of symptoms.

Percentage representation of difficulties with COVID-19:

• fever - 87.9% of cases
• dry cough has 67.7% of patients
• fatigue in 38.1%
• flooding 33.4%
• difficulty breathing 18.6%
• joint and muscle pain 14.8%
• sore throat 13.9%
• headache 13.6%
• cold 11.4%
• nausea and vomiting 5% 
• rhinitis 4.8%
• diarrhea 3.7%
• blood coughing 0.9%
• conjunctivitis 0.8%
• loss of smell and taste

The study of 138 hospitalized patients in Wuhan conducted:

• 98.6% of cases with fever
• 69.6% with fatigue
• 59.4% even with dry cough.

Uncommon symptoms are indigestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Diagnosis of COVID-19 is performed by airway swab or blood collection. The swab is performed with the help of sampling sets, a nasopharyngeal swab (nasal and oropharyngeal) is made.

In the laboratory, the presence of the virus is detected by RT-PCR or antibody testing. Plus, blood count, CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation FW, and other parameters are supplemented according to difficulty.

In pneumonia, an X-ray image of lung tissue infiltration is present. 

Imaging methods such as CT and others can be added depending on the current condition.

Of course, medical history and travel history are important.

COVID-19 is characterized by its variable course.

The course of the disease can be:

1. asymptomatic = asymptomatic - unknown%
2. mild - 80.9% of cases
3. moderate - 13.8% of cases
4. critical - 4.7% of cases

The total number of people infected with mild difficulties will be higher,
as not every person has been tested. 

Most people have a fever. It is accompanied by chills, weakness, and fatigue. Whole-body, muscle, and head pain are equally synergistic.

This course is present in approximately 80% of patients.

However, in 13.8% of cases, bilateral pneumonia, ie pneumonia, develops within 24 to 48 hours. It also includes difficulty breathing (shortness of breath, dyspnoea). Approximately 5% of patients require intensive treatment. 

The risk is the condition overturning to respiratory failure. Subsequently, the condition may progress to multiorgan failure to shock. 

The most serious complication thus becomes death.

The risk course is assumed for:

• elderly people over 65, especially over 70 and 80 years of age
• in people with chronic diseases, heart, lungs, diabetes
• in immunocompromised people
• in smokers

A study of 138 hospitalized patients  showed:

It took 5 days from the first symptom to difficulty breathing, approximately 7 days after hospitalization, and 8 days after ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome).

At the same time, ARDS developed in 20% of hospitalized and artificial lung ventilation was needed in 12.3%. Furthermore, day 10 was found to be significant in disease progression.

The duration of treatment for the mild forms was approximately 2 weeks.

Severe conditions required treatment for 3 to 6 weeks.

In critical forms, it took about 8 weeks from the first symptom to death.

The mortality rate  for COVID-19 by  age category:

• 14.8% after age 80  =  highest death rate
• 8.0% from 70 to 80 years of age
• 3.6% after the age of 60
• 1.3% in the period after the 50th year
• 0.4% for 40-year-olds
• 0.2% under the age of 38

The overall mortality rate is approximately 2.3%.

Are you asking about the approximate duration of the difficulties?

The duration of treatment for non-severe forms of COVID-19 is approximately 14 days. However, weakness, fatigue, and increased exhaustion persist even after the disease has subsided. And even more than 2 weeks.

How does the disease work in children?

In children, it is generally mild. There is no known cause of death by the age of 9.

Observations from China have shown that the virus spreads relatively quickly among children. Therefore, they are an important link in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. 

In children, the disease is usually mild. 

Serious complications can occur in children with long-term illnesses.

As in adults, the disease is asymptomatic or mild in children. In the clinical picture with fever, malaise, and weakness as well as dry cough.

The disease was also proven in newborns. The transfer occurred within a few days after delivery from a positively tested mother or other family members.

In general, children can ...

Digestive problems, vomiting, rhinitis, sore throat are associated. 

COVID-19 and pregnancy

Any viral disease can occur with higher intensity during pregnancy. This is true for flu, and therefore for COVID-19.

It has not yet been confirmed that the disease is worse. Also, the virus was not confirmed to cross the placenta to the fetus. Transmission from mother to newborn has not been proven either.

However, COVID-19 has not been sufficiently researched and therefore the answers to this topic are still open.