Coronavirus (COVID-19)

   ⚕️Sponsor of todays My Health Series posts⚕️

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, first identified in late 2019. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, from mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia, multi-organ failure, or death. The disease triggered a global pandemic with significant health, economic, and social impacts.

---

🦠 CAUSATIVE AGENT

• Virus: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

• Family: Coronaviridae (same family as SARS and MERS)

---

🔍 HOW IT SPREADS

Mode	Details
Respiratory droplets	Coughing, sneezing, talking
Airborne particles	Especially in enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces
Contact transmission	Touching contaminated surfaces, then mouth/nose/eyes
Aerosols	Fine particles that can linger in the air longer than droplets

---

📈 INCUBATION PERIOD

• Typically 2–14 days, average ~5 days

---

😷 SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

Common	Less Common	Severe
Fever	Sore throat	Shortness of breath
Cough	Muscle aches	Chest pain or pressure
Fatigue	Headache	Bluish lips or face
Loss of smell/taste	Nausea/diarrhea	Confusion, difficulty waking
Nasal congestion	Skin rashes	Oxygen saturation < 94%

Some individuals remain asymptomatic but can still spread the virus.

---

📊 WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK?

• Older adults (65+)

• People with chronic diseases (diabetes, heart/lung/kidney disease)

• Immunocompromised individuals

• Pregnant people

• Obese individuals (BMI ≥ 30)

---

🧪 DIAGNOSIS

Test	Description
RT-PCR	Gold standard; detects viral RNA
Rapid antigen test	Quick, less sensitive
Serology (antibody tests)	Detect past infection or vaccine response

---

💊 TREATMENT OPTIONS

🔹 1. For Mild to Moderate Cases (Home care)

• Rest and hydration

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever/pain

• Pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels

• Isolation to prevent transmission

---

🔹 2. Antiviral Therapies

Medication	Use
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir + ritonavir)	Oral antiviral for high-risk patients
Remdesivir	IV antiviral for hospitalized patients
Molnupiravir	For mild/moderate cases, less widely used

---

🔹 3. Immunomodulators (for moderate/severe)

• Corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone) to reduce lung inflammation

• IL-6 inhibitors (e.g., tocilizumab) in cytokine storm cases

---

🔹 4. Supportive Hospital Care

• Oxygen therapy

• Mechanical ventilation (for respiratory failure)

• ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) in critical cases

• Anticoagulants (to prevent blood clots)

---

🛡️ PREVENTION

• Vaccination: Primary series + boosters (based on age & risk)

• Face masks: Especially in crowded/public settings

• Hand hygiene: Regular washing or sanitizer

• Ventilation: Keep indoor spaces well-aired

• Isolation: If infected or symptomatic

---

🧬 VARIANTS OF CONCERN

Variant	Notes
Alpha, Beta, Delta	Previous waves
Omicron & subvariants (e.g., XBB, BA.2.86)	Highly transmissible but less severe
Current surveillance	Continues globally through genomic sequencing

---

💉 VACCINES

Type	Examples
mRNA	Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna
Viral vector	AstraZeneca, J&J
Inactivated virus	Sinopharm, Covaxin
Protein subunit	Novavax

Boosters target updated Omicron strains in many countries.