Pneumonia and Coronavirus: The Relation Between the Two
With the recent outbreak of Coronavirus, there have been a lot of talks about the relation between pneumonia and the COVID-19 virus as the two have almost similar symptoms. Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be potentially life-threatening as it causes the lung air sacs to become filled with fluid. Its symptoms are related to the respiratory tract and include cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and fatigue. Cough medicines and pain relievers can be effective to reduce pain but in more serious cases, one needs to go to the hospital and may even be put on a ventilator. Those infected with COVID 19 can have pneumonia which can complicate their case further.
As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronavirus disease is also a respiratory illness that is accompanied by symptoms like fever, dry cough, body ache, and fatigue, which are similar to pneumonia symptoms. This virus also progresses through the respiratory tract and causes inflammation of the lungs. It fills the air sacs with pus and fluid, so much so, that the person is unable to take in oxygen and maybe put on a ventilator to assist breathing. In severe cases, the lungs get so inflamed that oxygen deprivation leads to damage to other body organs like kidney and heart.
Chances of people with COVID-19 having pneumonia are high, especially those above 60 years of age. People working in the healthcare sector or those who are already having health issues (like lung disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or heart disease) are at a greater chance of getting severely ill with COVID 19. It is therefore important to get diagnosed and treated at the right time. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms and lab test results.
Pneumonia treatment may require hospitalization as the patient needs a continuous supply of oxygen and he may need to be put on a ventilator for this. Intravenous (IV) fluids are also given to the patient to prevent dehydration. There are clinical trials been done to see if some experimental drugs and treatments that are used for other conditions can be used in treating severe COVID-19 or related pneumonia. Until we find a treatment or a vaccine, taking all necessary precautions is the only way to reduce our chances of catching the infection. Staying home, washing our hands regularly, using disinfectant to clean home surfaces that are touched often are the steps that must be followed to prevent the infection.
As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronavirus disease is also a respiratory illness that is accompanied by symptoms like fever, dry cough, body ache, and fatigue, which are similar to pneumonia symptoms. This virus also progresses through the respiratory tract and causes inflammation of the lungs. It fills the air sacs with pus and fluid, so much so, that the person is unable to take in oxygen and maybe put on a ventilator to assist breathing. In severe cases, the lungs get so inflamed that oxygen deprivation leads to damage to other body organs like kidney and heart.
Chances of people with COVID-19 having pneumonia are high, especially those above 60 years of age. People working in the healthcare sector or those who are already having health issues (like lung disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or heart disease) are at a greater chance of getting severely ill with COVID 19. It is therefore important to get diagnosed and treated at the right time. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms and lab test results.
Pneumonia treatment may require hospitalization as the patient needs a continuous supply of oxygen and he may need to be put on a ventilator for this. Intravenous (IV) fluids are also given to the patient to prevent dehydration. There are clinical trials been done to see if some experimental drugs and treatments that are used for other conditions can be used in treating severe COVID-19 or related pneumonia. Until we find a treatment or a vaccine, taking all necessary precautions is the only way to reduce our chances of catching the infection. Staying home, washing our hands regularly, using disinfectant to clean home surfaces that are touched often are the steps that must be followed to prevent the infection.
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