What is coronavirus and how not to get it
Educational Program Health / / December 30, 2020
Cases of infection with the deadly 2019 ‑ nCoV coronavirus (the name stands for 2019 Novel Coronavirus - "2019, the new coronavirus") have been reported from around the world, including the United States.First Travel ‑ related Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Detected in United States. Only in China already got sickChina coronavirus: 26 dead, while eight cities on lockdown more than 800 people, 26 of them died.
WHO called an emergency meeting. However, as a result, he refused to declare the situation with the virus emergency. Nevertheless, for China, the epidemic is critical: in an effort to stop it, the authorities closed 10 cities with a total population of more than 25 million people to travel.
What are coronaviruses
Coronaviruses are members of a family of viruses that can cause respiratory and intestinal disease in humans and animals.
Coronaviruses got their name because of the specific shape of the shell. Its protein structure under the microscope resembles the solar corona.
Science has known these viruses since the 1960s. Most of them are quite safe.Coronavirus. They cause the common cold, which is easy to carry and quickly being treated the simplest methods - rest, drinking plenty of fluids and over-the-counter drugs. Most, but not all.
Some coronaviruses cause serious complications. For example, the infamous SARSCoronaviruses and Acute Respiratory Syndromes (MERS and SARS) (aka SARS - severe acute respiratory syndrome), which raged in Asia, and in particular in China, in 2002-2003.
SARS not only affected the upper respiratory tract, but also extremely quickly destroyed the pulmonary alveoli - the bubbles in the lungs, which, when inhaled, fill with air and transfer oxygen to the blood. A person died from rapidly developing oxygen starvation of organs and tissues.
In total, over 8,000 cases were registered, of which approximately one in ten died. SARS went down in history under the name SARS.
In 2004, the outbreak was suppressed. And since then SARS has not made itself felt. But scientists already then discovered what the main danger of coronaviruses was.
Why are coronaviruses dangerous?
High mutagenicity. This means that coronaviruses are able to quickly change, adapt to the external environment in order to facilitate transmission from the carrier to the new victim. For example, the same SARS is believed to have originally spread among bats. But at some point he mutated and attacked the person.
Human immunity, which had not yet encountered such an infection, turned out to be completely powerless.
In fact, scientists associate the termination of the SARS outbreak with the fact that the coronavirus has changed again. But that doesn't mean SARS has disappeared. Perhaps he continues to doze in the body of animals in order to mutate once again and remind humanity of himself.
Coronavirus 2019 ‑ nCoV, the outbreak of which began at the end of December 2019 in the Chinese city of WuhanWHO Statement Regarding Cluster of Pneumonia Cases in Wuhan, China, also, most likely, was unexpectedly "presented" to people by animals.
This is a completely new strain, doctors have not yet encountered it. But it is already known that, like SARS, it affects the lungs, quickly causing a viral pneumonia and deadly oxygen starvation of the body as a whole.
What are the symptoms of coronavirus
Symptoms of infection with any coronavirus, including SARS and 2019 ‑ nCoV, are the same as with any other SARS. These includeCoronavirus into myself:
- sore or sore throat;
- cough;
- runny nose;
- headache;
- temperature from 37.8 ° C;
- weakness, general feeling of ill health.
In more severe cases, when the infection descends from the upper respiratory tract down (as happens with SARS), the symptoms worsen. Appear:
- temperature from 39 ° С;
- severe hacking cough;
- dyspnea;
- breathing problems;
- chest pain.
If these signs occur, seek immediate medical attention. You don't have to be diagnosed with the coronavirus. Perhaps it ARVIjoined by a bacterial infection or pneumonia. But in any case, these are complications that require mandatory medical supervision.
How to treat coronavirus
There is no special therapy for coronavirusQ and A: Coronaviruses. Like the vast majority of other viral infections, coronavirus is treated only symptomatically: rest, heavy drinking, over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Perhaps one day a vaccine specifically for 2019 ‑ nCoV will be developed. But WHO warns that this could take several years.
Therefore, the best you can do is to minimize the risk of infection as much as possible.
How not to get sick with coronavirus
The same as ARVI. Both the common cold and the coronavirus are transmittedCoronaviruses: Transmission exactly the same. You are at risk of getting sick when an infected person coughs or sneezes next to you. And also when you accidentally bring your hand to your lips, nose or eyes after shaking hands or touching surfaces on which the virus has settled (the same doorknobs or handrails in vehicles).
That is, in order not to get sick (not only with coronavirus, but also with other acute respiratory viral infections), try:
- As little as possible to be in confined spaces where there are many people. If you can do without going to public transport, subways, crowded shopping malls, and so on, do so.
- Ventilate the area in which you spend the day more often. This will reduce the concentration of viruses in the air.
- Avoid contact with people who seem to have a cold.
- Less touching of surrounding objects in public places.
- Wean yourself from the habit of climbing your hands to your face.
- Regularly and thoroughly to wash hands - in warm water, with soap and for at least 15 seconds. If water and soap are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
- Dress for the weather. To freeze means to voluntarily lowerImmune changes in humans during cold exposure: effects of prior heating and exercise your immunity. And he will still come in handy in your confrontation with viruses, including the "crowned" ones.
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