Coronaviruses are types of viruses that typically affect the respiratory tract of mammals including humans. They are associated with the common cold, pneumonia, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and can also affect the gut. A coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in the nose, sinuses or upper throat.
WHAT IS A CORONAVIRUS?
Human coronaviruses (HCoV) were first identified in the 1960s in the noses of patients with the common cold. Human coronaviruses are responsible for a large proportion of common colds-1.OC43 2.229E.They get their name because of crown-like projections on their surfaces. Corona in Latin means ‘halo’ or ‘crown’. This infection in humans occurs during winters and early spring. Coronavirus antibodies do not last long and the antibodies for one strain of virus may be useless against other strains.
These were first identified in the 1960s but their actual place of origin is not known. Coronaviruses can infect both humans and animals. Most of them spread like other cold-causing viruses through the coughing and sneezing of other infected people, by touching an infected person’s hand or face or by touching surfaces like furniture or doorknobs that have been touched by infected people Most people get a coronavirus infection once in a lifetime, most likely during childhood. These are most common in U.S during fall and winters.
FACTS ON CORONAVIRUSES:-
- There is no cure for the common cold.
- A coronavirus causes both SARS and MERS.
- Coronaviruses infect many different species.
- There are 7 known human coronaviruses.
- SARS spread from China and caused infection in 37 countries killing people.
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SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS
These symptoms are similar to an upper respiratory infection like sneezing, runny nose, fatigue, coughing, sore throat, or a fever, exacerbated asthma too. It is unidentifiable from other cold-causing viruses like Rhinovirus. If this infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs)it can cause pneumonia, especially in older people, people with heart disease, or people with a weakened immune system. Human coronaviruses cannot be cultivated in the laboratory easily, unlike the Rhinovirus, another cause of the common cold.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN FOR CORONAVIRUS INFECTION—
There is no vaccine available for it. Its prevention is similar to that of a common cold. Some of them are—
1. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Keep your hands and fingers away from your eyes, nose, and throat.
- Avoid close contact with infected people.
- Get lots of rest and avoid overexertion.
- Drink fluids mainly water.
- Take over-the-counter medicine for a sore throat and fever. Aspirin must not be given to children or teens younger than 19 instead of Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen or Naproxen should be given.
- A humidifier, steamy shower, or cool mist vaporizer can also help ease a sore throat.
- Avoidance of smoking or going into smoky areas.
The responsible virus can be diagnosed by taking a sample of respiratory fluids like mucus from the nose or blood.
TYPES OF CORONAVIRUSES
There are currently 7 recognized types of coronaviruses that can infect humans. Common types include—-
- 229E (Alpha coronavirus)
- NL63 (Alpha coronavirus)
- HKU1 (Beta coronavirus)
- OC43 (Beta coronavirus)
Some rarer, more dangerous types include—MERS-CoV which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), the coronavirus responsible for SARS.
TRANSMISSION
There has not been a great deal of research on how a coronavirus spreads from one person to next. But it is believed that the viruses transmit using secreted fluid from the respiratory system. Coronaviruses can spread in the following ways—
- Coughing and sneezing without covering the mouth can disperse droplets in the air, spreading the virus.
- Touching or shaking hands with an infected person can spread it thus.
- Making contact with an infected surface and then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth.
- On rarer occasions, a coronavirus may spread through contact with feces.
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17 Comments
Thanks for spreading awareness on coronavirus that too when the whole world is talking about it.
It’s brief and summarised well.
Great content! Super high-quality! Keep it up! 🙂
Because of COVID19, the coronavirus is so much in the news in 2020. Your explanation is detailed and includes how to deal with it if we are infected. The steps to avoid infection with good hygiene practices is appreciable too. Hope it helps everyone and that the media will highlight prevention and treatment a lot more than they have so far.
A very useful post and I really wanted to know about this virus which has recently created a panic situation everywhere.Thanks for sharing.I will share this among my friends and relatives so that people will be more aware.
Wonderful post
Very informative.People shld read such posts as it has created panic around us.thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this post and stating the facts. There are so many rumours going around regarding this.. your post is very helpful
Thank you
A thoroughly informative post. I appreciate that you have collated all the possible information, a layman needs to know, to be ready for this deadly virus.
A very detailed and need of the hour post. You have rightly mentioned all the points one should know at this point of time. Thanks for sharing.
Wow..what a simple but exhaustive insight into every aspect of the Coronavirus when there are so many rumours flying around. Thanks for sharing Fareha.
This is a very informative posts. Especially in the times when it’s so widespread. Thank u for sharing everything so explicitly.
Corona virus is latest threat to mankind and it is sad that there is no cure for it. thanks a lot for sharing all preventive measures, it will help a lot people in stay safe from infections.
Wow this is quite informative about the current coronavirus hype around the world. I didn’t know smoking had anything to do with something being contagious. The washing hands and stuff we normally do do keep the viruses away.
Coronavirus is already creating panic among people. There are random forward messages on social media, rumors, and gossips. At that point in time, a well researched clearly communicated article clears doubts and queries in mind. Just like this one. I would be forwarding the article to my friend circle.
Thank you everyone for the feedback on my post. It is motivating and encouraging.
Thank you everyone for the feedback.
A very well written and an extremely well researched article. You have listed down all the things a common man needs to know about the disease which is creating panic everywhere. Thanks for the details.