how covid19 may affect the life cycle of a person who is infected by the virus
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Respiratory infections are among the most common diseases that affect humans. These illnesses can range from mild colds to serious lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Many respiratory infections are caused by coronaviruses, a family of viruses that are easily spread through respiratory droplets in the air and on surfaces. The novel strain COVID-19 is the cause of the current worldwide pandemic.
In some patients, moderate upper respiratory infections can progress into serious lower respiratory infections within a few weeks. Patients whose symptoms began with a mild cough may develop respiratory failure, needing ventilator support to breathe.
How can a microscopic virus wreak such havoc in the body so quickly? And why do some patients (including men) get hit harder with respiratory illnesses?
Let’s take a closer look at what happens when a respiratory virus, such as COVID-19, enters the body, as well as how we can protect ourselves and others.
COVID-19 can move from the upper to lower respiratory tract
Viral respiratory illnesses typically spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, spraying germs into the air that land on surfaces. If you breathe in the respiratory droplets, or touch surfaces and then touch your face, the virus can enter your body and infect you.
COVID-19 is particularly contagious; one infected person, on average, spreads it to 2.2 people. By comparison, people with the seasonal flu typically spread it to about 1.3 people. The novel coronavirus also seems to infect the upper and lower respiratory tracts at a higher rate than other viruses, which creates more coughing and more potential for community spread.
Upper respiratory infections
The lungs are among the few organs besides the skin that are in constant contact with the outside world. This, along with ease of transmission through touch, increases humans' susceptibility to developing respiratory illnesses.
Once inside the body, viruses first enter the upper respiratory tract, which includes the nasal passages, throat (pharynx and larynx), and windpipe (trachea). The virus begins to replicate, invading your healthy cells.
Symptoms: Sore throat, dry cough, shortness of breath, fever, headache, and fatigue.
Treatment: Options generally include symptom management because antibiotics don't work against viruses. The doctor might suggest drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking over-the-counter medication to lower fevers and manage body aches, as well as decongestants for sinus trouble.
Duration: Patients with upper respiratory infections typically feel sick for a week or two.
In most patients, the body’s immune system kicks in to fight the virus and contain it in the upper respiratory tract. It creates antibodies, which bind to the virus so it can't replicate, as well as T-cells, which attempt to destroy the virus. About 80% of people who are infected with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms and recover without needing hospitalization or treatment by a specialist, according to the World Health Organization.
But if a patient has a weak immune system or an especially aggressive infection, the virus can invade the lower respiratory tract and affect the lungs. These infections are typically more serious because they interfere with our ability to breathe.
Lower respiratory infection
If the virus progresses beyond the upper respiratory tract, it can begin to cause inflammation on our bronchial trees – the passages that conduct air between the lungs and the outside world.
In these cases, the virus targets the lung cells that make mucus, as well as those that have tiny hairs called cilia. Mucus protects lung tissue and keeps the lungs from drying out, while the cilia move the mucus and clear out debris such as pollen or viruses. Inflammation irritates the nerves in the lining of the bronchial trees, increasing sensitivity to even a tiny speck of dust.
To fight the virus, the immune system may go into overdrive, setting off an inflammatory response that fills up the air sacs in the lungs. Unfortunately, this response can render the cells unable to clear out debris and fluid. When the patient's airways become inflamed, pneumonia can set in.
Normal people will affected by the Corona virus because of Corona virus many people loss their jobs and critical situation may formed for their families and children there would be no money to eat or some other purposes .so Covid19 may affect the life cycle of a person.