Coronaviruses are common viruses that most people have encountered at some point in their lives, usually as a young child. Several coronaviruses can infect people, usually causing mild to moderate upper respiratory infections that usually present with symptoms of a cold. Occasionally, infection with a coronavirus results in more severe lower respiratory illness. Various symptoms may be associated with a coronavirus infection, including nasal congestion, mouth breathing, sore throat, dry throat, mouth ulcers, coughing and sneezing, among others. Rest, some home remedies and medicines relieve the symptoms of most respiratory infections caused by a coronavirus. Finally, some preventive measures are available so that people are less likely to contract this infection or reduce the chance of the infection spreading.

• Causes of coronavirus infection
• Conditions caused by coronaviruses
• Mild and moderate
• Serious
• Symptoms: Usually respiratory tract
• Diagnosis and investigations
• Treatment of viral CoV infection
• Prevention of infection by coronavirus

 

Causes of coronavirus infection

The Coronavirus (CoV) is a medium-sized enveloped positive-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Coronaviridae family. They have a characteristic crown-like appearance (hence the name of the virus) in electron micrographs. Human pathogenic CoVs include HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-NL63, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), and Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). Coronaviruses spread through the air (coughing or sneezing), through close personal contact or by touching contaminated objects after which the person touches the eyes, mouth or nose.

Conditions caused by coronaviruses

Human coronaviruses (hCoVs) can be divided into low pathogenic and highly pathogenic coronaviruses . Usually, infection with the virus results in mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illness.

Mild and moderate

The low pathogenic CoVs infect the upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses and throat) and cause mild respiratory diseases such as:

• a throat infection
• a cold / summer cold
• croup (viral infection with barking cough in children)

 

Serious

Occasionally, patients suffer from a serious infection due to a coronavirus infection. Highly pathogenic hCoVs mainly infect the lower respiratory tract (trachea and lungs) and then cause fatal pneumonia. Babies and very young children, the elderly and patients with a weak immune system are particularly at risk of a serious viral infection caused by the coronavirus:

• the human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E)
• the human coronavirus HKU1
• the human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63, New Haven coronavirus)
• the human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43)
• the Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS): The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus” (MERS-CoV) was identified in 2012 as the cause of respiratory disease in humans.
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome: The coronavirus SARS-CoV caused a global outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003.
• new coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Occasionally the central nervous system is also affected by an infection with the coronavirus. This may lead to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis.Covid-19 (2019-nCoV, 2019-nCoV coronavirus, coronavirus disease 2019) Causes and spread The first known outbreak was first detected in Wuhan (China) around mid-December 2019. The virus subsequently spread to all provinces of China and then to other countries. First only in Asia, later also in other parts of the world. Human-to-humanspread via droplets from breathing or coughing or through close contact was confirmed on January 20, 2020 in Guangdong (China). The transmissibility of the virus between people is variable, with some affected patients not transmitting the virus to others, while others have been able to spread the infection to several people. Reports have emerged that the virus is contagious even during the incubation period (time between contracting the infection and developing symptoms). Animals sold for food are suspected of being the reservoir or middleman because many of the first identified infected patients were workers at the Huanan Seafood Market. Consequently, they were exposed to greater contact with animals.Risk factors When people come into contact with the saliva of a patient carrying the virus, or come close to these patients when coughing, sneezing or talking, the risk of transmission of the virus increases .Without taking preventive measures, the risk of infection also increases when people:

• have an intimate partner who has contracted the virus
• living with a patient who has contracted the virus
• providing home care to a patient with the virus

Symptoms The incubation period (time from exposure to the virus to the development of symptoms) of the virus is between two and ten days. Reported symptoms include fever, fatigue, dry cough, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, pneumonia, kidney failure and in severe cases, death. Most deceased patients also had underlying conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes mellitus (diabetes) or cardiovascular disease.Diagnosis and Investigations After recording the symptoms and medical history, the doctor measures the patient’s vital signs and performs a physical examination. A blood test often shows a low number of white blood cells (leukopenia and lymphopenia). Chest X-rays reveal signs in both lungs.Treatment As of December 2020, there are no proven vaccines or specific treatments for COVID-19, although several are in development. Efforts to relieve symptoms include taking (over-the-counter) flu medicine, drinking fluids, and resting. Depending on the severity, oxygen therapy, intravenous fluid administration and breathing support are required.Complications Risk groups Complications occur more quickly in:

• elderly people
• patients undergoing cancer treatment
• patients with other poorly or untreated conditions such as diabetes mellitus, kidney disease or liver disease
• patients with certain heart conditions
• patients who are seriously overweight
• patients with immune system disorders, such as HIV
• patients with lung diseases, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and asthma (chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs)

Health problems COVID-19 may cause some complications such as:

• acute respiratory failure
• blood clots
• an acute heart injury
• an acute liver injury
• acute kidney injury
• a secondary infection
• septic shock
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
• neurological complications
• pancreatic lesions (damage to pancreas)

rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscles, joints and urinary tract)

• pregnancy complications

Prognosis The severity of COVID-19 varies. The disease may have a mild course with few or no symptoms and may resemble other common respiratory conditions, such as the common cold. Patients with mild symptoms usually recover within two weeks, while patients with severe or critical illnesses take three to six weeks to recover. Sometimes patients die as a result of COVID-19, usually two to six weeks after the symptoms start. Children make up a small proportion of reported cases: They tend to have milder symptoms and a lower risk of serious illness than adults.Prevention To prevent the infection , WHO recommends washing hands regularly (good hand hygiene), covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing and avoiding close contact with a patient with symptoms of respiratory illness (such as coughing and sneezing). ).Fatigue is one of the possible symptoms of an infection caused by a coronavirus / Source: Concord90, Pixabay

Symptoms: Usually respiratory tract

The symptoms usually appear two to five days after infection. An infected patient suffers from one or more of the following signs:

• general : a general ill feeling, joint pain, headache, swollen lymph nodes, fever, chills, body aches, decreased urination, drowsiness, muscle pain, fatigue
• skin : a rash
• throat : tonsillitis, dry throat, scratchy throat, sore throat, postnasal drip (phlegm in the back of the throat), coughing up mucus
• lungs / breathing : mouth breathing, coughing, shortness of breath, a wheezing sound when breathing in (stridor)
• stomach and intestines : vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite
• mouth : coughing up blood (hemoptysis), a different tongue color, a dry mouth, an itchy mouth, a bad taste in the mouth, itchy lips, hoarseness/a hoarse voice, mouth ulcers, sneezing
• nose : congestion (clogged sinuses), a runny nose, a decreased sense of smell, a stuffy nose, crusts in the nose
• eyes : conjunctivitis, pain behind the eyes, watery eyes
• ears: hearing loss, blocked ears

 A blood test is possible but usually pointless / Source: Frolicsomepl, Pixabay

Diagnosis and examinations

Tests are available to detect the coronavirus (nose and throat cultures and blood tests), but the doctor rarely orders these tests because most patients have mild to moderate disease. The test results do not influence the treatment either because the symptoms usually disappear within a few days.

Treatment of viral CoV infection

As of December 2020, there are no specific treatments for coronavirus infection. Most patients with an infection caused by a coronavirus recover spontaneously. It is possible to relieve the symptoms, such as taking painkillers and fever-reducing medications. Children under the age of 19 should not take aspirin because it increases the risk of developing Reye’s syndrome, a condition that causes swelling of the brain and liver. Ibuprofen and paracetamol are safer alternatives. Using a humidifier or taking a warm shower will soothe sore throat and coughing. Patients should also drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, stay at home and get plenty of rest. Patients with severe symptoms may require oxygen support. The doctor treats the other symptoms supportively.Good hand hygiene is necessary / Source: Gentle07, Pixabay

Prevention of infection by coronavirus

Patients can reduce the risk of coronavirus infection by washing hands often and thoroughly with warm water and soap or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. They should also not touch their eyes, nose or mouth and should avoid close contact with sick patients. As of early December 2020, there is no approved vaccine available to prevent a coronavirus infection. Patients who are already ill should stay at home and avoid close contact with others. They also cover the mouth when coughing and sneezing. It also helps keep objects and surfaces clean and disinfected.

read more

• COVID-19: Complications of coronavirus infection
• Cold: Mild infection with symptoms in the nose and throat
• Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS): Respiratory tract infection
• Bronchiolitis: Respiratory tract infection with breathing problems
• Respiratory disorders with coughing and nasal congestion