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Humanity has now entered an era of change. Almost every one of us is forced to change our way of life due to the current epidemiological situation. A new flow of information makes you think about what is happening. Sooner or later, every inhabitant of the Earth will come into contact with a new coronavirus infection COVID-19. Infection is not necessarily a disease. A person can become infected, but the disease develops if the immune system cannot cope with the invading pathogen. In the presence of good immunity, an asymptomatic course of the disease is possible.
Now there is a lot of talk about inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) with coronavirus infection, but a large number of questions arise. It would seem that this is a fairly common and common disease among people. Despite its danger, with proper and timely treatment, the patient recovers without side effects and complications. But is this always the case with COVID-19 pneumonia? So, what you need to know about pneumonia in COVID-19.
The causative agent of COVID-19 is pneumotropic, that is, it affects mainly the lungs, and pneumonia is of viral origin. Fortunately, such inflammatory processes in the lung tissue have been known to physicians for a long time, as well as their diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, scientists have also found that the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are similar in many respects to pneumonia in H1N1 influenza, which doctors also know how to deal with.
The main difference between viral pneumonia is not the defeat of the alveoli, but the connective tissue of the lungs, which is located in the interalveolar septa. This tissue is called interstitial and is the main structural element in some organs, including the lungs. Also, at the site of inflammatory foci, blood clots form, which prevents normal blood supply and helps to reduce oxygen saturation of the body. This inflammation is commonly referred to as pneumonitis.
Fortunately, the human body with good immunity copes with the infection on its own: with an increase in body temperature, specific protective proteins, interferons, are produced.
It is important to note that it is during sleep that the main amount of these proteins is produced, which help fight the disease.
People with strong immunity can overcome the disease themselves, the disease is asymptomatic. Unfortunately, the most at risk of a severe course of the disease with a possible adverse outcome, including death, are the elderly, who often have weak immunity, chronic diseases, and diabetes mellitus. [1] [2].
The causative agent of the coronavirus infection COVID-19 is a virus that transfers its own genetic material and, when it enters a human cell, produces the proteins necessary for its life, which disrupts the functioning of healthy body cells, namely the connective tissue of the lungs. With an inadequate response of the immune system to the introduction of the virus, its rapid spread is possible, since it is able to generate particles similar to itself. Also, as mentioned earlier, sclerotic formations appear (as a result of thrombosis), which leads to disruption of gas exchange, hypoxia, and this is fraught with serious consequences.
The process of spreading the virus in the body can go completely unnoticed. With a mild course, even in the presence of pneumonitis, a person may not show shortness of breath, cough and fever, which are characteristic of ordinary inflammation of the lungs. This is a threat, since the detection of inflammatory foci and thrombosis can occur very late, which is quite difficult or not treatable at all.
In the presence of obvious symptoms, the disease is easier to detect. Elevated body temperature can last for 5 or more days. Dry cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, headaches, jumps in blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, decompensation of chronic diseases also indicate the manifestation of the disease. In such cases, you must urgently consult a doctor.
Renewed or new manifestations of the disease on the 6-7th day of illness require special attention. They may indicate the so-called “cytokine storm” and the unfavorable course of the disease. It occurs as a result of an inadequate response of the autoimmune system, which attacks its own healthy cells instead of the virus. Unfortunately, modern medicine cannot predict who is susceptible to such a course of the disease. These effects can be detrimental to humans.
Research and treatment of pneumonitis
As mentioned above, a person with a coronavirus infection can endure it in a mild form, which will not adversely affect his health. But if there is a suspicion of pneumonia, or rather pneumonitis, the patient is hospitalized with further more detailed diagnostics for pathogenetic treatment.
First of all, computed tomography of the lungs is prescribed, as the most informative study. This type of diagnosis gives a more complete picture of changes in the lungs, which is necessary for the appointment of suitable therapy. At the same time, in the hospital, the patient is closely monitored by medical personnel, vital signs, changes in the body, such as temperature, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation, are monitored. A general blood test is not enough to control all changes in the body; additional biochemical and other studies are being carried out, in particular, coagulogram control. At the same time, constant dynamic monitoring of all indicators is necessary for subsequent individual medical adjustment. The well-coordinated work of physicians plays an important role in the fight against the disease.
Will there be consequences from COVID-19 pneumonia?
People who have suffered a mild illness are unlikely to ever remember this. However, those who have experienced complications, namely massive pneumonitis (pneumonia), as a result of COVID-19 coronavirus infection, may have consequences – residual effects in the form of fibrotic changes in the lungs, which reduce the physiological volume of the lungs, the possibility of full breathing. How realistic recovery is, scientists still find it difficult to give an exact answer.
- Sources of
- ↑ Сdc.gov. – Older Adults.
- ↑ Ourworldindata.org. – Mortality risk of COVID-19.
- Who.int. – Global research on coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Pneumonia, Viral.
- Сambridge.org. – Coronavirus free access collection. Medicine.
- Сdc.gov. – Coronavirus (COVID-19).