What is coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a group of virus that is known to cause disease in the animals and birds. In humans, the coronavirus generally causes respiratory infections and diseases. Some of the most common disease is cold and cough and pneumonia.

Coronavirus disease- Symptoms

The many symptoms of the coronavirus disease are given below-

• Coughing
• Fever
• Difficulty in breathing
• Pain in the muscles
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Diarrhea

In some cases, it can also lead to respiratory infections and diseases, kidney failure and death. If you have these symptoms the best actions are too self isolate yourself and visit the doctor immediately.

Some precautionary measures for avoiding the coronavirus

Some basic precautions need to be taken to reduce the spread of the disease. Here are 4 basic parameters for the safety of yours and the others-

Avoid coming in contact with others

The coronavirus spreads very quickly from one person to another. The infections spread when there are other healthy persons around an infected person and this person coughs or sneezes. For avoiding contact with others maintain the following-

Staying at home

• Practice social distancing at all times
• Staying at least a meter away from a person
• Avoiding people who are suffering from fever
• Buying grocery items after the peak hours

Maintain the hygienic parameters

The coronavirus is also spreading from the contaminated surface of anything such as a door handle to a chair. Maintain the hygienic parameters can make you stay safe.

• Wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer that is alcohol-based
• Do not touch your eyes, mouth and the nose before washing hands
• Bend your elbow before coughing or sneezing

What if you are treating someone who is a coronavirus infected?

• Cover yourself from head to toe
• Wear diver goggles
• Wear masks
• Cover hands with gloves

Is the coronavirus disease new?

Coronaviruses are a group of malicious viruses. Coronavirus was first discovered in the 1930s in chickens that were suffering from acute respiratory infections. The first cases of the coronavirus in humans were reported in the 1960s. Common cold was the only symptom in these persons. These were named as human coronavirus 229E and human coronavirus OC43.

Since then other coronaviruses have been detected. One of the similar epidemics caused due to coronavirus dates back to 2003 when the SARS virus-infected humans. The SARS virus is also from the family of the coronavirus.

What is the official name that has been the disease caused by coronavirus?

The WHO has prescribed an official name for the disease caused by the coronavirus. The coronavirus disease is known as the COVID-19. Previous to this, it was known as the 2019 novel coronavirus. The malicious virus causing the coronavirus disease has been named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

What happens when you get the coronavirus disease?

When you get infected with the coronavirus the first symptoms will be fever, feeling tiredness and cold and cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and nausea. Some persons may also suffer from pneumonia.

Does coughing means I have coronavirus?

Yes, coughing is one of the symptoms of the coronavirus disease. Most of the persons can catch a common cold and will cough and sneeze while others may have a dry cough.

Is there a vaccine for the coronavirus disease?

Researchers around the world are continuing their dedicated and determined efforts to come out with a vaccine. But so far there is no official vaccine for the COVID-19 disease. Neither is there a treatment that can cure the patients. So far the persons who are being hospitalized are being treated for their acute symptoms such as pneumonia, shortness of breath and influenza. Most persons are then being kept in ventilators in the hope of a recovery.

Some medicine compounds are under investigation. All of them are being trailed at the medical clinics. The governments of the all countries are funding the pathologies and laboratories to pursue their experiments on finding a weak point of the coronavirus. Some of the clinical trials have so far shown that compounds such as Hydroxychloroquine can be effective to some extent against the disease. But unless the findings are validated after several thousand tests and getting the nod from the governing bodies it cannot be used for medical testing on humans.

How does the coronavirus disease spread?

The virus spread similar to any contagious disease if you come in contact with an infected person. Here are the most common ways on how the disease can spread-

• Coming in the vicinity of an infected person who is coughing and sneezing
• Using any type of materials or substances that have been used by the infected person
• Physical contact with an infected persons such as intimate contact, handshakes etc.

Who is most at risk for the coronavirus disease?

While scientists and researchers around the world are still learning about the disease the so far there has been an approximate trend that has been observed. Those who are at high risk of suffering from the coronavirus disease are-

• Older persons
• Persons who are suffering from pre-existing diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, liver and kidney problems.
• Persons who are staying close to an infected person or coming in physical contact with an infected person
• All medical personnel including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff.

Can the coronavirus disease spread through air?

So far it is known that the coronavirus does spread through air at acute condition. The virus is released by an infected person in the form of tiny droplets which are too heavy to hang in the air, but they can make themselves lighter too during the acute conditions. However, they eventually fall on the floors or surfaces. But if you are in the close vicinity and these tiny droplets get inside your body through eyes, mouth and the nose then you will also be infected.

What is the difference between coronavirus and COVID 19?

These are two very commonly used terms. The common people will often be confused if used very regularly. The coronavirus is the generic name of the virus that is causing the disease. The official name of the virus is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 is the official name of the coronavirus disease.

What is the recovery time for the coronavirus disease?

There is no general recovery time for the disease. However, the doctors have suggested that the general incubation period for the disease 14 days. The incubation period is the period when the person gets infected from the virus and the beginning of the symptoms. There are studies to show that the virus can stay in the body for well over two weeks in some cases. Some scientists are saying that there is an average waiting period of 24 days since being infected to be removed from the list of critical status.

Can antibiotics treat the coronavirus disease?

So far research is continuing in this field. There are various medicines like Azithromycin, Hydroxychloroquine and some other drugs being tested. Azithromycin is used for the treatment of pneumonia and Hydroxychloroquine is a chief ingredient of antimalarial medicines.

The WHO has clearly stated that antibiotics do not work against viruses. But still, it is being used in treatment because pneumonia can cause secondary bacterial infections and this can be treated with antibiotics.

Are masks effective against the coronavirus disease?

Masks are highly recommended for every person who is going out. It is a preventive measure that can be adopted by everyone. It is one of the preventive measures along with cleaning hand repeatedly with soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

You must wear a mask when you are coughing or sneezing. We also have to know about the correct procedure of using masks and how they should be disposed of. You must wash your mask regularly or dispose of it. Make sure you wash hands before putting on a mask. After reaching home or your destination you may open your mask but then again you have to wash your hands.

Can the coronavirus disease be transmitted in hot or humid climates?

Research is still pursuing in this field. It is not known whether the climate can be a decisive factor in the spread of the coronavirus. Scientists are still probing about the weather conditions that are ideal for the virus to thrive. However, there has been no conclusive evidence in this field so far.

If you consider the general trend so far all the countries that have hot and humid climate seem to be less affected due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Scientists have told that the rate of spread of the coronavirus in hot and humid climates may be less. So people in the hot tropical or equatorial climate are less susceptible to the disease. But there is no conclusive evidence to prove this theory.

What is a novel coronavirus?

Coronavirus belong to a group of similar virus. The COVID-19 outbreak that we are witnessing is similar to a coronavirus but has a new strain that was not previously known to us.