Coronaviruses- All that you need to know

The group of viruses that looks like a crown (corona) under the microscope can cause infection in humans, birds, and animals.

Coronaviruses in Human

7 types of coronaviruses can cause infections in humans.

Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a new strain of coronavirus that has been responsible for the recent outbreak, first identified in Wuhan, China.

Types	Common Name	Acronym	Associated illness
1	Human Coronavirus 229E	HCoV-229E	Common cold
2	Human Coronavirus NL63	HCoV-NL63	Common cold
3	Human Coronavirus OC43	HCoV-OC43	Common cold
4	Human Coronavirus HKU1	HCoV-HKU1	Common cold
5	Severe acute respiratory syndrome- Coronavirus	SARS-CoV	SARS
6	Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus	MERS-CoV	Severe acute respiratory infection
7	Novel coronavirus	2019-nCoV	Severe respiratory infection (Pneumonia)

Number of cases in Global epidemic caused by SARS and MERS coronavirus

Sign and Symptoms of Coronaviruses

Coronavirus causes the symptoms of the common cold such as the runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, cough.

SARS and MERS cause severe respiratory infection which includes:

High-grade fever
Severe cold
Headache
Chills
Muscle aches
Difficulty in breathing
GI Symptoms(1/3^rd cases)
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea/vomiting
- Abdominal pain

SARS may lead to pneumonia, organ failure and death in 10% of cases

Mode of Transmission

It occurs through person to person contact with an infected person through

Coughing and sneezing
Touching the face or shaking hands
Using infected things (utensils, pillow)

Diagnosis

Clinical evaluation & history of exposure
Testing of respiratory secretions
Blood tests

Precautions to prevent Coronavirus

Follow simple measures to reduce the risk of infection

Wash hands with soap and warm water
Keep hands and fingers away from eyes, nose, and mouth
Stay away from infected people and things used by them

Treatment

Isolation of the patient who has contracted the infection is recommended and most of the affected individuals usually recover within 1 to 2 weeks. It is primarily supportive treatment under the advice of a doctor.

There is no specific vaccine or cure for coronavirus

Everything travellers need to know

Avoid contact with an infected person
Delay your visit to affected areas
Take all precautionary measures to reduce the risk of getting an infection
Avoid close contact with live or dead farm or wild animals
Seek immediate medical attention if you show signs of respiratory illness after the visit

FAQ

Does coronavirus cause death?

Yes, SARS, MERS, and 2019-nCoV can cause fatal respiratory illness.

How long does the coronavirus live (Incubation period)?

Symptoms develop usually after 3 days

Is there a vaccine for coronavirus?

No, there is no vaccine for coronavirus

Can humans get coronavirus from dogs?

Canine coronavirus (that affects dog) does not affect humans

About the Author

Dr. Aarti Nehra is an MBBS graduate and pursued Masters of Medical Science and Technology from IIT Kharagpur. She has worked as a consultant to provide services across the medical device and pharmaceutical industry. A cross-domain expert with experience in clinical practice, clinical marketing, competitive intelligence, market strategy and analysis, statistical analysis, and medical research.