What happens when you have coronavirus?
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses causing illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
The Covid-19 strand originated in Wuhan, China. It causes respiratory issues and can be fatal.
HOW TO AVOID CORONAVIRUS
NHS advice to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus is:
DO
- Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- Always wash your hands when you get home or into work
- Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
DO NOT
- Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Coronavirus is circulating at the same time as winter coughs, colds and seasonal flu, so it can be difficult to tell them apart.
Covid-19 symptoms include:
- Dry cough
- Fever and tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle pain
The World Health Organisation adds that while the most common symptoms are fever, tiredness, and dry cough, symptoms can also include aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea.
Since these symptoms are those for a variety of illnesses, such as commons colds and flu, if you have them you do not necessarily have Covid-19.
HOW THE SYMPTOMS CAN GET WORSE
Public Health England (PHE) say the virus may progress to more severe illnesses, such as pneumonia - the inflammation of the lungs and the tiny sacs where oxygen moves from the air to the blood filling with water - and ultimately organ failure.
Older patients and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to progress to severe disease.
WHAT THE VIRUS DOES TO YOUR ORGANS
Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading says patients face a "dual-track" of damage from Covid-19:
- The cilia - the tiny hair-like structures that line the airways in the lungs which protect the airways and help remove excess mucus - of an infected person can stop working, leading to more mucus settling on the lungs than usual
- Damage is also caused by an "overly exuberant immune response", which is common with all sorts of infectious diseases. Quite often the damage that is done during an infection is done by the patient's own immune system over-reacting to the infection.
The virus can also attack the kidneys - and, in some cases, the blood vessels and circulation.
THE RECOVERY PROCESS
There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus.
Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses, and treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the illness.
The NHS advice is to stay in isolation and away from other people until you've recovered.
Work is being done to create a vaccine, but one is weeks, if not months, away.
Dr Simon Clarke advises, "Most of us need bed rest and paracetamol. In extreme cases you can be ventilated in hospital if you are having trouble breathing.
"If you go into hospital, they'll keep you topped up with fluids and make sure your electrolytes are OK."
"The key is treating the symptoms and trying to alleviate some of the symptoms but there is no way of helping your body eradicate the infection like there would be if you had a bacterial infection."