Covid 19

COVID- 19

Overview:

Corona viruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered corona virus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

Illness in humans mainly manifests as a respiratory infection, or sometimes gastrointestinal infection. The clinical spectrum of illness varies from no symptoms or mild respiratory symptoms to severe, rapidly progressive pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, or multiorgan failure resulting in death.

Coronaviruses are classified into three groups, initially based on antigenic relationships of the spike (S), membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins and now re-enforced by viral genetic phylogeny (Box 57.1). The HCoVs 229E and NL63 are group 1 coronaviruses, while OC43, HKU-1 and SARS coronaviruses are classified in group 2. Group 3 coronaviruses are found in avian species. Genetic recombination readily occurs between members of the same and of different coronavirus groups providing opportunity for increased genetic diversity.

Efforts to identify the animal reservoir of SARS coronavirus led to the discovery of diverse bat coronaviruses in both group 1 and 2 that are closely related phylogenetically to different mammalian coronaviruses. It has been proposed that bat coronaviruses may indeed have been the ancestors of many mammalian coronaviruses. It is noteworthy that recent studies on the comparative evolution of animal and human coronaviruses have led to the conclusion that HCoV 229E and OC43, the causes of the common cold which are now globally endemic in humans, crossed species from their animal reservoirs (bats and cattle, respectively) to humans within the last 200 years, illustrating the fact that coronaviruses continue to cross species barriers and cause novel diseases.

1. Symptoms
2. Precautions
3. Causes
4. Statistics
5. Helpline

1. Symptoms :-

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but

don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don't develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.

 The virus can cause a range of symptoms, ranging from mild illness to pneumonia. Symptoms of the disease are fever, cough, sore throat and headaches. In severe cases difficulty in breathing and deaths can occur.

 Can Coronavirus disease be caught from a person who has no symptoms?

 The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.

Most Common Symptoms

·        Fever

·        dry cough

·        tiredness

Less common symptoms:

·         aches and pains

·         sore throat

·         diarrhoea

·         conjunctivitis

·         headache

·         loss of taste or smell

·         a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes

Serious symptoms:

·         difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

·         chest pain or pressure

·         loss of speech or movement

Click here for more Symptoms

2. Precautions:-

• • To prevent the spread of COVID-19:
  • Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Stay home if you feel unwell.
  • If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call in advance.
  • Follow the directions of your local health authority
  • Hand-washing
  • Not touching the face
  • Limiting contact
  • Staying home if unwell
  • Calling ahead for medical help
  • While traveling
  • In the household
  • In the workplace
  • At school
  • traveling on public transport
  • being in a public place
  • coughing
  • sneezing
  
  
  Hand-washing
  Regular hand-washing is one of the main ways to help prevent the transmission of coronavirus.
  
  
  Avoiding touching the face
  People should avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with their hands, especially if they are unwashed. This can help limit the spread of germs and reduce the likelihood of them getting sick.
  
  
  Limiting contact with others
  People should take care to avoid coming into close contact with others — especially those who are older, unwell, or have symptoms of the virus.
  
  
  Staying home if unwell
  If a person has mild symptoms of COVID-19, they can self-isolate by staying at home and avoiding contact with others.
  
  
  Calling ahead for medical attention
  Anyone with a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing in an area with a COVID-19 outbreak should seek medical advice.
  
  

Click here for more precautions

3. Causes:-

Infection with the new coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The virus appears to spread easily among people, and more continues to be discovered over time about how it spreads. Data has shown that it spreads from person to person among those in close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters). The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can be inhaled or land in the mouth or nose of a person nearby.

It can also spread if a person touches a surface with the virus on it and then touches his or her mouth, nose or eyes, although this isn't considered to be a main way it spreads.

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Lung disease
• Asthma
• Kidney disease that needs dialysis
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Cancer treatment, especially chemotherapy
• Liver disease
• Cigarette smoking

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4. Statistics:-

Click here for latest updates of covid-19

5. Helpline:- 

STATE HELPLINE NUMBERS
State/UT	Helpline No.
Andaman & Nicobar	03192-232102
Andhra Pradesh	0866-2410978
Arunachal Pradesh	9436055743
Assam	6913347770
Bihar	104
Chandigarh	9779558282
Chhattisgarh	104
Dadra Nagar Haveli	104
Delhi	011-22307145
Goa	104
Gujarat	104
Haryana	8558893911
Himachal Pradesh	104
Jammu	01912520982
Jharkhand	104
Karnataka	104
Kashmir	01942440283
Kerala	0471-2552056
Ladakh	01982256462
Lakshadweep	104
Madhya Pradesh	104
Maharashtra	020-26127394
Manipur	3852411668
Meghalaya	108
Mizoram	102
Nagaland	7005539653
Odisha	9439994859
Puducherry	104
Punjab	104
Rajasthan	0141-2225624
Sikkim	104
Tamil Nadu	044-29510500
Telangana	104
Tripura	0381-2315879
Uttarakhand	104
Uttar Pradesh	18001805145
West Bengal	1800313444222, 03323412600
The central helpline number: 011-23978046