COVID-19: Epidemiology and pathophysiology
Virology
- Coronaviruses are common human pathogens
- Cause the common cold
- In epidemics, cause up to one-third of community-acquired upper respiratory tract infections in adults; and may cause diarrhea in infants and children
- SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus (a new strain not previously identified in humans)
- Likely primary source = bats
- It is a betacoronavirus in the same subgenus as the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus. Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus is another, more distantly related, betacoronavirus. Like the SARS coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [ACE2] for cell entry
- Surface survival time of SARS-CoV-2:
- stainless steel: persists for 3 hours (or longer)
- underscores the importance of environmental cleaning / disinfection
- cleaning gets rid of the proteins that would interfere with a disinfectants effectiveness
- Note: studied in a simulated lab environment. Lab virions not covered in protein and mucus and other things that would mimic real life and that could prolong survival
Origins
Geographic Distribution
Pathophysiology
- ARDS - Possibly due to direct alveolar damage by the virus AND inflammatory reaction. [1]
- Cytokine Storm
Risk Factors
- Older age
- Underlying conditions (lung disease, Renal Failure, Malignancy, heart disease, diabetes)
NOT Risk Factors
- Children: milder disease
- Pregnant patients: see COVID-19 in pregnancy
Transmission
Incubation Period
Infectious Period
See Also
COVID-19 Pages
- COVID-19 (main)
References
- ↑ Xu Z, Shi L, Wang Y et al. Pathological findings of COVID-19 associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 2020;8(4):420-422. doi:10.1016/s2213-2600(20)30076-x