Question

How does SARS_COV2 attack the immune system? How does it affect the pulmonary system? What makes this disease so devastating for some, resulting in 'cytokine storm', the need for a ventilator, and death? For survivors, what are the long term effects of having this disease? Finally, after doing some research, what questions do you have about this disease?

Answer 1

SARS _COV2 is the highly contagious virus which is pandemic in current situation worldwide threatens all irrespective of any background. This virus attacks the immune system by altering it's function .When the virus enters the respiratory tract ,the immune system responds by release of lymphocytes and as a secondary response the T cells are also released in order to attack the virus. The immune system also releases the cytokines initially .This causes inflammatory response in the lungs and tries to engulf the virus and expel it out by cough .As the immune mechanism is already altered, it leads to increased production of the cytokines which further leads to inflammation in the lungs .This increased level of cytokines attacks the virus as well as the healthy cells and leads to inflammation .First it attacks the lungs by inviting the neutrophils and the leukocyte which attack the lung cells, resulting in pleural effusion, edema and cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. Again by prolonged increase in the cytokines levels causes inflammatory response in the major vital organs like heart ,brain ,liver ,renal causing organ failure .This is termed to be cytokine strom.In this case the body temperature is elevated. It affects the clotting mechanism which can lead to hemorrhage ,clot formation,hypoxemia acid base imbalance ,etc. ,

The long term effects which is observed in the survivors are

• Respiratory : infection ,impaired lung function ,cough ,dyspnea ,restrictive lung failure ,pulmonary embolism
• Cardiovascular :cardiomyopatgy, chest pain ,thrombus formation
• Central nervous system :insomnia, depression ,headache ,anosmia ,stroke,PTSD
• Musculoskeletal :pain ,fatigue

A question which can raise after doing certain research are

• How to improve immunity naturally to fight not only COVID but any type of infection in the future
• The effectiveness of the vaccine invented so far.A biggest safety concerns on its effects, years later which cannot be predicted now to take necessary precautions
• The impact of it on the health care workers .
• The perception of public on the healthcare workers
• The financial loss, physical and psychological stress undergone by almost all I'm the world directly or indirectly.
• The fear regarding the concept of fittest to survival .