What is coronavirus and how not to get it

On March 11, the World Health Organization officially named the WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - March 11, 2020 the situation with the spread of the COVID-19 disease as a pandemic. Here's what we know about the causative agent of this disease - the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

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 easily tolerated and quickly treated with the simplest methods - rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and over-the-counter medications. Most, but not all.

Some coronaviruses cause serious complications. An example of this is the notorious SARS disease Coronaviruses and Acute Respiratory Syndromes (MERS and SARS) (also known as SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which raged in Asia, and in particular in China, in 2002-2003.

Its causative agent, the SARS-CoV coronavirus, not only affected the upper respiratory tract, but also extremely quickly destroyed the pulmonary alveoli - 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 was the main danger of coronaviruses.

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-CoV 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 this does not mean that he disappeared. Perhaps the pathogen continues to dormant in the body of animals in order to mutate again and remind mankind of itself.

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the outbreak of which began at the end of December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, WHO Statement Regarding Cluster of Pneumonia Cases in Wuhan, China, was also unexpectedly "donated" to people by animals - presumably the same bats.

This is a completely new strain, doctors have not yet encountered it. But it is already known that he is the closest relative of SARS-CoV. Hence the official name of the Wuhan coronavirus - SARS-CoV-2. Like the causative agent of SARS, version 2 infects the lungs, rapidly causing viral pneumonia and deadly oxygen starvation for the body as a whole.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus

Symptoms of infection with any coronavirus, including SARS-CoV-2, are the same as with many other SARS. These include Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19) and include:

temperature rise (from 37, 8 ° С);
weakness, general feeling of ill health;
cough;
feeling of nasal congestion, runny nose;
sore or sore throat;
headache.

In more severe cases, when the infection quickly and on a large scale descends from the upper respiratory tract downward (as happens with SARS), the symptoms worsen. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) arrives. Symptoms:

severe dry cough;
shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
feeling of tightness or chest pain;
pallor, bluish tint of the lips;
clouding of consciousness.

If these signs occur, seek immediate medical attention. You don't have to be diagnosed with the coronavirus. Perhaps this is ARVI, which was joined by a bacterial infection or viral pneumonia. But in any case, these are complications that require mandatory medical supervision.

By January 24, Chinese doctors have updated the list of symptoms specific to SARS-CoV-2. In some cases, at the very start, the infection makes itself felt with nausea, diarrhea and other problems with the digestive system. The respiratory symptoms listed above join later.

How to treat coronavirus

There is no specific therapy for coronavirus. Q and A: Coronaviruses. Like the vast majority of other viral infections, coronavirus is treated only symptomatically: rest, drinking plenty of fluids, over-the-counter pain relievers based on paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Perhaps one day a vaccine specifically for SARS-CoV-2 will be developed. But WHO warns that this could take several years. And the best thing you can do now is to minimize your risk of infection.

How not to get sick with coronavirus

The same as ARVI. Both the common cold and the coronavirus are transmitted by Coronaviruses: Transmission is 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.
Wash hands regularly and thoroughly - in warm water, with soap and for at least 15–20 seconds. If water and soap are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers (at least 60% alcohol).
Dress for the weather. To freeze means to voluntarily reduce Exposure to cold and respiratory tract infections. your level of protection against infections. And he will still come in handy in the confrontation with viruses, including the "crowned" ones.