Covid-19 is an infectious disease that caused the recent pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This disease is passed from person to person by respiratory droplets from talking, sneezing or coughing that are then breathed in by others. For most that get infected, the illness is nothing more than a combination of mild flu-like symptoms.
Before the introduction of vaccines, Covid-19 led to deaths around the world in the vulnerable such as the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, especially chronic respiratory illnesses. There have also been exceptions to this rule, with healthy individuals dying or becoming seriously ill from this virus.
Additional illnesses have been experienced, such as covid-19 induced pneumonia, bronchitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and superinfection. These are secondary illnesses and infections that have affected individuals after initially becoming ill with covid-19.
There are many different variants of covid, and some have been more potent than others. The symptoms are numerous and usually show after an incubation period of between two and 14 days. The main symptoms of covid-19 are a persistent cough, fever, sore throat, breathlessness, headaches, body aches, and loss of taste and smell.
If infection with covid-19 leads to additional illnesses, then new symptoms can arise. If covid-19 pneumonia develops, then the lungs can fill with fluid and green mucus, leading to extreme breathing problems, low blood oxygen levels, and even death.
Covid-19 lung damage can cause scarring in the lungs and inflammation that can lead to chronic bronchitis, which is also accompanied by excessive amounts of airway congesting sputum.
The damage caused by covid-19 in the airways can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Symptoms of ARDS are caused by progressive covid-19 pneumonia. This fills the airways with fluid that results in shortness of breath and eventual failure of the respiratory system. The use of a ventilator to help those afflicted is often required due to severe breathing problems that can ultimately lead to death.
Severe cases of covid-19 can lead to sepsis. Sepsis happens when an infection results in the body mounting an extreme response. This extreme response can quickly lead to the damaged tissues, failing organs and death.
Superinfection is the term given when the body’s immune system is overwhelmed by an original infection such as covid-19, and this leaves the body vulnerable to being infected by other opportunistic viruses and bacteria. The symptoms of superinfection are dependent on what secondary infection is present.
Additional illnesses are caused by the covid-19 virus infecting, weakening, and damaging the lungs. An extreme immune response can lead to inflammation and secondary life-threatening illnesses such as sepsis and pneumonia.
Risk factors for developing additional illnesses linked to covid-19 infection include having underlying health conditions such as diabetes and asthma and being over the age of 65.
Diagnosis of covid-19 is through either a PCR test or rapid tests that detect antigens. Samples are taken from the nose and the back of the throat in the form of swabs. If additional illnesses set in, then CT scans and X-rays can be used to assess the extent of any lung damage.
Treatment usually consists of antivirals, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, oxygen, and even treatment in intensive care where a ventilator can breathe for the patient until the condition of their lungs improves.
Preventing the spread of covid-19 obviously also prevents all the complications associated with this virus that can occur. Mask-wearing, avoiding crowds, and vaccination can all help.