COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus from the family of coronavirus. Disease records began in 2019, but the identification of the causative agent and the consequences of this infection only occurred in the year 2020.
Responsible for causing fever, difficulty breathing and coughing, this infection resembles a the flu. However, COVID-19 can lead to serious complications and even death, and should therefore be seen as a serious public health problem. The transmission of COVID-19 occurs from one person to another through contact with respiratory droplets. Therefore, one of the measures to prevent is to avoid places with agglomerations of people.
ATTENTION: COVID-19 is a new disease and many studies are being done regarding this infection. Therefore, new information may be added to this text as research on the topic advances. |
Read too: Difference between COVID-19, flu and cold
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus of the coronavirus family, the SARS-CoV-2. This virus, like others in this family, is capable of causing
infections that affect the system respiratory. As such, it can easily be mistaken for a flu or cold.
You first cases of the disease became known at the end of 2019, when the World Health Organization was communicated about several cases of pneumonia, without defined cause, taking place in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. On January 7, 2020, authorities identified the causative agent of the disease.
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Quickly toCOVID-19 spread by several places on the planet, leading the World Health Organization to classify the disease as a pandemic. As of 10:34 am on February 25, 2021, there were 111,999,954 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 2,486,679 deaths, and reported to WHO.
Read too: Coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2 family of viruses
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What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
As COVID-19 is a disease that affects the respiratory system, its symptoms are mainly related to this system, which makes it often similar to a flu or a cold. Among the most frequent symptoms are the fever, dry cough and tiredness. However, other symptoms can be observed, such as runny nose, sore throat, loss or reduction of smell and taste, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
It is worth noting that some people may be asymptomatic, that is, being infected but not developing symptoms. Others, however, may have the disease in a severe way. This last situation occurs mainly in elderly people and those who have other health problems, such as hypertension, heart problems and diabetes.It is estimated that around 20% of COVID-19 cases require hospital care due to respiratory distress, of which around 5% require ventilatory support.
How is the transmission of COVID-19?
COVID-19 can be transmitted from one person to another through respiratory droplets eliminated by the patient when sneezing or coughing. these droplets can also contaminate surfacesThus, a person can acquire the infection by touching these contaminated surfaces, as they run the risk of transferring the virus to the eyes, nose or mouth. That's why we must keep a distance of at least 2 meters from other people and not touch eyes, nose or mouth with our hands unless they have been properly sanitized.
It is noteworthy that it is not known for sure how long the virus survives on a surface, however, SARS-CoV-2 appears to behave like other coronaviruses. That means he can remain for several days on surfaces, this time being variable depending on the characteristics of the environment and the surface on which it is located. Therefore, it is important to sanitize places and objects that are frequently touched, such as doorknobs, cell phones, toys and computers.
Read too:What is quarantine?
How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
ACOVID-19 is diagnosed through the symptom analysis of the patient as well as for the performance of laboratory and imaging tests. The disease is suspected when the individual has associated symptoms such as fever, respiratory symptoms (such as coughing and difficulty breathing), loss or decrease in smell or taste, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
The patient suspected of COVID-19 should undergo laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis. Among the exams that can be requested are the one for molecular biology (PCR) and the immunological, that detects the presence of antibodies in the samples of blood.
How is the treatment of COVID-19?
COVID-19, so far, does not have specific treatment, as well as most viral diseases. The recommendation is the rest and hydration in mild cases of the disease. Symptoms such as fever and pain are treated with medication antipyretics and analgesics. Some existing drugs have been tested in order to cure COVID-19, however, none has been shown to be effective in curing the disease. despite the lack of scientific evidence, some drugs are still being used, which generates a lot of discussion among experts.
You severe cases of the disease require hospitalization, which is often in Intensive care unit. Hospitalization is generally related to respiratory distress, when it is necessary to use of mechanical ventilation.
How can we prevent and prevent the transmission of COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a serious and potentially fatal disease, so it is essential to prevent it and prevent its transmission to other people. Here are some important tips for the prevention and control of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or sanitize using 70% alcohol gel.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with your hands without proper hygiene.
- Keep at least 2 meters away from other people.
- Avoid hugs, kisses and handshakes.
- Do not share personal items such as cutlery, plates, glasses and towels.
- Clean objects that are used frequently, such as cell phones and children's toys.
- When coughing or sneezing, use a handkerchief or the inside of your elbow to cover your nose and mouth.
- If you're not feeling well, stay indoors, and if you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, see a doctor.
- Keep rooms ventilated and clean.
- Wear a mask wherever you have contact with other people outside of your daily life. Homemade fabric masks are not considered personal protective equipment (PPE), however, they are a good form of prevent the spread of the disease, as they act as a physical barrier, reducing the amount of droplets eliminated in the environment.
See more:How to prevent viral illnesses?
Vaccines against COVID-19
With the onset of the pandemic and the increase in deaths due to COVID-19, a worldwide search for an efficient vaccine that could stop the spread of the disease began. All over the world, several pharmaceutical companies have started research and development of vaccines. At the moment, some vaccines are already released for emergency or definitive use, and others are in test phase.
In Brazil, the campaign of vaccination started in January 2021. The first person to be vaccinated was an intensive care nurse at the Emílio Ribas hospital in São Paulo, named Mônica Calazans. The vaccine administered by the nurse was the CoronaVac, produced in a partnership between the Butantan Institute and Chinese biopharmaceuticals Sinovac.
Mutations and vaccines against COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was observed. The emergence of these variants caused serious concern: Will the vaccines developed so far be effective?
Some vaccines showed results showing that their effectiveness was reduced, however, they are still able to guarantee some protection against the disease. Other companies have not released results. This all shows us the need for the population to be vaccinated quickly, in order to prevent further mutations emerge and vaccines become less and less effective. Only with the decreased circulation of SARS-CoV-2, we will be able to reduce mutations.
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By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
