Abdul Wahab (Pharm-D)

Overview Coronaviruses have been known to mankind for years and they cause a wide range of illnesses from mild flu to serious infections like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This novel form of coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan city, China in December 2019. This novel form of coronavirus is named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) and the disease that it causes is called coronavirus disease 2019 or Covid-19. It’s an infectious disease that mostly affects the respiratory tract and lungs. The virus has an ability to spread very quickly and since December 2019 when it was first identified it has reached almost every part of the world. In fact, according to John Hopkin’s university count the virus has infected more than 5.5 million across the world and the number is increasing exponentially. Keeping the unprecedented spread of the virus in view and the overwhelming impact that it had across the world, WHO declared it a global pandemic in March 2020. If you are looking for live coronavirus updates and statistics please scroll down. What are the sign and symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid-19)? According to WHO, the incubation period for Covid-19 is 2-14 days. However, most people develop the first signs of the disease on the 5th or 6th days of infection. Symptoms for COVID-19 can be vague and manifest differently for different patients. There are many patients who are asymptomatic and still carry the infection. However, in general, the most common coronavirus symptoms are, Fever Dry Cough fatigue Other less common symptoms are, Body aches Headache Sore throat Diarrhea Conjunctivitis Loss of smell and taste Skin rashes Discoloration of fingers and toes Most patients (about 80%) do not develop serious complications and recover on their own within a couple of weeks. Yet, there are some patients who experience life-threatening complications (usually after two weeks) and manifest severe symptoms. These are, Breathlessness Chest pain Loss of mobility and speech The question is how dangerous is coronavirus? The virus may cause severe respiratory symptoms and can cause death in some cases. Please WHO guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19 because there is no treatment available. What is the incubation period for coronavirus? According to WHO, the incubation period for Covid-19 is 2-14 days but the signs and symptoms may appear on the 5th or 6th days of the infection. You can check the signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease above. Who are at the most risk? It is true that anyone can have the infection, some people are more at risk to contract the infection than others. These are, People have recent travels history especially to places where the virus is more prevalent People who are in direct contact with infected individuals or have someone in their families or surrounding areas with the virus Healthcare professionals are at the front line of the Covid-19 fight and thus it makes them vulnerable to have an infection because of continuous exposure. Those employees who work in businesses that have to remain open across the clock like grocery stores People who share the same living spaces in correctional centers, shelter homes, prisons, old age homes, etc People who live in the congested area Homeless people. Who is more likely to develop serious complications? Covid-19 is a novel illness and we do not have enough information on its risk factors. However, thus far, it has been seen that most aged people and patients with existing health conditions are likely to develop serious illness. Some of the known risk factors are, According to the center for disease control and prevention (CDC), 59% of the infected with age 65 or above requires hospitalization and the mortality rates are almost 11% which is significantly higher than in any other age group People with compromised immune systems are more prone to develop serious life-threatening complications. Also, the duration of the infection may be longer in such patients than in others. Immunity is weakened by chemotherapy, HIV, organs transplant, bone marrow transplant, use of medications such as corticosteroids and hereditary factors. Patients with pulmonary problems such as asthma and COPD are advised to take extra care as COVID-19 can manifest severe complications in such patients People with heart problems could be at greater risk from COVID-19 as it affects lung function which in turn puts extra pressure on the heart to supply enough oxygen to all parts of the body. There is not sufficient test data to support the claim but generally diabetic patients find it difficult to fight viral infections. High blood glucose levels make it an ideal environment for viral proliferation. Severe obesity is another pre-existing risk factor that could increase mortality rates. How is coronavirus transmitted?  Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 ) is a highly contagious virus that can spread from person-to-person in a number of ways. Droplets transmission: Infected people have a significant load of viruses in their bodies and they cough, sneeze, or talk they release droplets. Healthy people in the nearby (approximately 6 feet) can inhale these virus-laden mucus drops through their mouth or nose and thus develop the infection. According to CDC this the major form of virus transmission and thus the social distancing of at least 6 feet is so much emphasized. Aerosol transmission: Smaller virus-laden respiratory droplets (<5 micrometers) can remain suspended in the air for hours and can disperse nearby within closed premises by the air current. These suspended droplets are when inhaled lead infection. Transfer from contaminated surfaces and objects: People can also get infected by touching surfaces and objected that are contaminated with the virus by people carrying the virus. People when touching their face after coming in contact with a contaminated object like a doorknob, they transfer the virus to their bodies either through mouth, nose, or eyes. A study at Nebraska University finds that 76% of personal belongings of people at the university were contaminated with the SARS-CoV-2. Oro-fecal transmission: This is not yet certain that feces can