What is Coronavirus Infection?
Recently, the outbreak of a respiratory illness caused by this coronavirus infection has become a huge concern worldwide. It was reported that the Wuhan city of China was the epicentre of this breakout.
This typical virus is termed as 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and it mainly affects the respiratory tract of mammals, including humans. People suffering from Novel Coronavirus have complained of mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. The severe form is denoted as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).
What are the characteristics of this organism?
Coronavirus comes under the coronaviridae family and the subfamily coronavirinae. It is an enveloped virus with a single-stranded RNA genome. The name of the virus is derived from the Latin word corona, which means crown or halo. Its morphology is created by the viral spike peplomer that is situated on the surface of the virus. Its spikes extend beyond its surface membranes and make it look like the sun’s corona.
What are the reported strains of this Coronavirus?
Coronavirus was first discovered in the 1960s in a chicken. It was found for the second time in the nasal cavities of human patients. They were subsequently named Human Coronavirus 229E and Human Coronavirus OC43. Other strains of this family may include SARS-CoV in 2003, HCoV NL63 in 2004, HKU1 in 2005, MERS-CoV in 2012. Most of these have been a part of serious respiratory tract infections. On 31st December 2019, a new strain of Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, was reported in Wuhan, China.
What are the symptoms of this Coronavirus Infection?
Patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus infection predominantly reported about respiratory illnesses. Depending on the type of coronavirus and the severity of the infection, the other possible associated symptoms are:
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Fever
In severe conditions, the infection may turn into pneumonia & bronchitis.
How does this Coronavirus get transmitted?
Human Coronavirus can spread from an infected person to others through:
- Coughing & sneezing
- Close contact
- Faecal contamination
- Usage of any object previously used by an infected person
How to diagnose Coronavirus Infection?
To diagnose Human Coronavirus, your general physician may check your symptoms, physical health and may ask you about your travel history. The healthcare provider may suggest you laboratory tests of respiratory and serum specimen. A polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can confirm the presence of Coronavirus Infection.
What are the different treatment measures for Coronavirus Infection?
There is no specific antiviral treatment to treat coronavirus infection. People with this infection recover on their own. They must receive supportive care to get relieved from the illness. A pain killer or fever medicine can also be provided to decrease the symptoms. But the treatment and medication will be provided based on the individual’s health condition.
How to prevent Coronavirus Infection?
The best way to prevent the infection is to avoid exposure to the virus. You may be able to reduce the risk by maintaining hygiene and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is suggesting people to take simple precautions to lessen exposure to and transmission of the virus, for which there is no specific cure or vaccine.
The recommendations are as follows:
- Wash hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub or warm water and soap
- Cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue while sneezing or coughing
- Avoid close contact with people who have fever or cough
- Seek early medical help if they have a fever, cough and difficulty in breathing. Share their travel history with the healthcare providers
- Avoid direct, unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals while visiting live markets in affected areas
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products and exercise care while handling raw meat, milk or animal organs to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods
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