Pneumonia is an inflammation (swelling) of the tissue in one or both lungs. A bacterial infection is generally to blame. A virus, such as the coronavirus, can potentially cause it (COVID-19). Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
At this time, there are no known cases of COVID-19 causing someone to develop pneumonia. However, since the disease is new, scientists don't know how it will affect everyone who gets it. There have been reports of people who have previously had COVID-19 showing symptoms of pneumonia after being infected with the virus again. More research is needed to understand why this happens and if it affects all people who get reinfected, but for now, we can say that it's possible that it can.
Here are some questions and answers about what causes COVID-19.
People who get COVID-19 feel sick between $2-$14 days later. The most common symptoms are fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Some people may also have diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and sore throat.
A person can be infected with COVID-19 and not show any signs of the illness. They can still spread the virus without knowing it.
Pneumonia is a lung illness caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses (including COVID-19). A typical sign of pneumonia is fever. However, in rare situations, some people have pneumonia without a fever or only get a minor version of it. This article discusses these cases of pneumonia without a fever.
People with no known risk factors for getting sick from COVID-19 shouldn't worry about going to a hospital if they have symptoms such as cough and difficulty breathing. The main reason to seek medical care is if someone has a fever or other signs of infection. Otherwise, self-isolating at home is the best option for most people.
In fact, some health experts believe that overzealous use of antibiotics is one of the major drivers of antibiotic resistance -- something very serious for our ability to fight off bacterial infections in the future.
They also argue that because pneumonia without a fever can be caused by many different things, including COVID-19, there's no way to tell whether or not someone with this condition will go on to get better or require hospitalization. Given this lack of knowledge, they recommend doing nothing more than offering supportive care and waiting to see how people do.
Pneumonia, regardless of the bacterium or virus that causes it, can be exceedingly dangerous, even fatal. The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 causes lung damage in the event of COVID pneumonia. COVID pneumonia can produce additional symptoms such as shortness of breath. In some cases, patients may show no symptoms at all.
The most common type of pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia results from a reaction to a bacteria, usually streptococcus. Viral pneumonia results from a reaction to a virus, often a respiratory virus such as coxsackievirus or echoovirus. Complications may include infection of the brain, heart, or kidneys.
Both types of pneumonia can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a condition where normal breathing functions are impaired. Patients may use accessory muscles to breathe, and their lungs may sound noisy on a chest x-ray due to lack of air moving through them.
Pneumonia can be deadly if not treated promptly. However, patients do better when diagnosed and treated early. Your doctor will perform a full medical history and physical examination before diagnosing pneumonia. They will also ask you about your recent travel history and any contact you have had with people who have been sick recently. They may also conduct laboratory tests to look for evidence of other problems such as cancer or HIV.
As a result, COVID-19 is more prone to spread than viruses such as the common cold. Your lungs may become irritated, making breathing difficult. This can result in pneumonia, an infection of the small air sacs (called alveoli) inside your lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged by your blood.
The virus may also cause other problems, including fever, cough, and sore throat. In some people, these symptoms are early signs of COVID-19. In others, it can lead to more severe illness, including death. The most serious cases develop into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), when the lung's protective membranes become inflamed and fill with fluid.
People at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19 include those who have chronic medical conditions, especially heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Older adults may be at higher risk of developing serious illness due to COVID-19's potential for causing long-term damage to their lungs.
In addition, women during pregnancy or breast-feeding should avoid contacts with people who are sick because of the possible harm to the fetus or newborn. After childbirth, pregnant women should not return to work until they have completed their pregnancy without complications. Women need to be informed that going back to work too soon may put them at risk of contracting the virus.
Those who have no other choice but to go to work despite being sick should try to stay home as much as possible.
As COVID-19 pneumonia worsens, more of the air sacs fill with fluid spilling from the lungs' small blood veins. Shortness of breath eventually sets in, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a kind of lung failure. Most people will recover from COVID-19 without needing any special treatment for their lungs.
People who suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease are at greater risk of suffering complications from COVID-19. They should take special care not to overextend themselves physically or mentally during this period. Their health care providers should monitor them closely for symptoms and act quickly if they notice any changes in behavior or breathing patterns.
People who have recently undergone surgery or are immunocompromised because of medications or illness may be at increased risk of developing serious complications from COVID-19. It is important that they follow proper hygiene practices until they heal from their operation or recover from their current illness. If they show signs of illness, they should contact their health care provider immediately so they can get advice about whether they need to stay home or go to a hospital.
People who have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not have any signs of illness themselves should still practice social distancing and avoid being around others if at all possible.
Solitary pulmonary nodules that spontaneously regress may be associated with organized pneumonia, which has been linked to COVID-19 infection. Other possible causes of solitary pulmonary nodules include metastases, bronchial carcinoids, lymphomas, and infections. The presence of multiple pulmonary nodules is more likely associated with other diseases such as sarcoidosis or tuberculosis.
In conclusion, COVID-19 can cause various respiratory complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and pulmonary embolism. However, non-specific findings on chest imaging may also be seen with this disease. Therefore, a diagnosis of COVID-19 should not be excluded based on the results of radiologic studies alone. A positive SARS-CoV-2 test is required to make an accurate diagnosis.
References:
1. Huang WJ, Wang YC, Zhang ZG, et al.: Characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2020;39:e20110382.
2. Li D, Xu X, Yang L, et al.: Clinical characteristics of 138 pediatric patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia in China. Chin Med J (Engl).
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