#Coronavirus#Symptoms#Precautions#Treatments

 What is Coronavirus and how does it spread?

In December 2019, a deadly virus struck China. The virus not only paralyzed the country but also threatened the regions around it. The virus spread through chain reactions affecting anyone in the path or in its vicinity. As it was a disease unknown to man, several researches, experiments and attempts were made to find the cure for it. However, all that specialists could find out were its origin and the preventive measures that should be taken. This epidemic, by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been named “COVID -19” and is widely known as “Coronavirus”. 

From December, the virus has spread to several countries both inside and outside of Asia. Till date, the virus has been responsible for more than thirty thousand infections in China and more than two thousand deaths. There have also been a few cases that have been reported in India. 

Coronavirus is a family of viruses that typically cause respiratory symptoms. This virus is Zoonotic, which means the disease can be transferred between animals and humans. It belongs to the same class of virus that has caused several outbreaks globally, like SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). As per research, it is believed that Coronavirus spreads through the secretory fluids of the respiratory system of an infected person. It commonly spreads when an infected person sneezes, coughs or exhales the infected respiratory droplet. Shaking hands or even touching the infected person or by touching the objects or surface that has been contaminated can act as the carriers of disease and get you infected by it. Current estimates of the incubation period (the period between the infection and the emergence of symptoms) for Coronavirus ranges from 1 to 14 days with the median of 5-6 days. However, more data is required to have more precise and refined information.

What are the symptoms when affected by Coronavirus?

From the data that has been revealed, symptoms of Coronavirus infection vary from individual to individual. It can range from no symptoms to milder forms to even fatal forms. 

 

When infected, the initial symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath

When the symptoms have worsened, it can give rise to:

• Pneumonia 
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• Septic shock 

Which needs immediate intervention

High-risk group:

Although it is hard to say which age or community group is more prone to the infection, in terms of vulnerability a person 

• Who comes in close/direct contact with the infected person
• Has chronic disease condition like heart disorders, liver diseases, diabetes, and respiratory issues)
• Children and older adults,

Precautions to Take

Organizations like WHO have given standard recommendations to minimize the chances of infection. 

• Avoid outside exposure to suspected areas and infected people
• Wash hands with soap and water. Also, it is advisable to use an alcohol-based sanitizer (Recommended brands include- Lifebuoy: Immunity Boosting hand Sanitizer/Dettol: Original Instant Hand Sanitizer)
• Keep your hands and fingers away from nose, eyes, and mouth. By doing so, you will eliminate the chances of the virus spreading if it is on your hands. 
• Cleaning houses and surfaces with ethanol or chlorine-based disinfectants is advised
• Thorough washing and cooking of meat before consuming is advised
• While stepping out, make sure to cover your nose and mouth with a mask. Here take a look at how you should wear a mask and the right way to dispose of it. 

Diagnosis

The detection of Coronavirus is done via respiratory and blood specimens. WHO has released several detection protocols for lab testing, and the results are generally available within a few hours to a few days. Seek help if you have worked with or around 2019-nCoV infected person or suspected areas like workplace or healthcare center. You are suffering from acute respiratory issues like fever, runny nose, cough, and difficulty breathing for more than 10 days.

Treatment

At present, there is no specific treatment, or a vaccine, to treat Coronavirus infection. The scientists from various backgrounds- epidemiology, virology, and biomedical sciences, are working together to come up with an effective solution as fast as possible. 

As of now, the typical medical regimen focuses on relieving the symptoms and providing optimized supportive care to one with severe illnesses. 

One can make sure to get relief from symptoms by:

• Taking proper rest
• Lots of fluids
• Taking counter- medicines for common flu-like symptoms like body pain, cough, and fever.