The Way, COVID-19 Affects The Human Respiratory System - hsmedlife

Coronavirus disease, recently well-known epidemic, is an infectious disease caused by COVID-19 or novel coronavirus, a respiratory virus that can infect the whole human respiratory tract which consists of both upper and lower respiratory tracts, though most of the respiratory viruses only infect either the upper or the lower respiratory tract.

This virus which affects humans via both respiratory and faeco-oral pathways is so life-threatening that it can bring us to death.
As the recent experiments have shown, this virus that spread from one person to another through the air, can exist alive on lifeless surfaces for a very little period (for several minutes)  which differs according to the surface.


What is the way, COVID-19 acts on our respiratory system? 

During inhalation of the air, the virus can enter our respiratory tract through the nose, if the virus is present in the surrounding.

After the viral reaching the alveoli, it is attached to a specific receptor, ACE-2 (Angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2) on the surface of type 2 pneumocytes, one type of cells which form an alveolus.

Then, the virus enters these cells using ACE-2 and gets proliferated.

Due to rapid viral proliferation, the rupturing of type 2 pneumocytes occurs.

Lots of newly formed viruses and inflammatory mediators like IL-1, IL-6 (Interleukin), TNF (Tumour necrotic factor) are released and activation of macrophages is followed by engulfing of those newly formed viruses into macrophages.

Above mentioned inflammatory mediators also contribute to that activation. As a result of activation, macrophages start releasing inflammatory cytokines.

These cytokines act on capillaries that are covering the alveoli, dilating capillaries and increasing the permeability of capillary walls.

An increased amount of fluid starts entering the interstitial space from the capillary bed through highly permeable walls.

Cytokines released by macrophages, send signals to neutrophils causing their entering the alveoli. Then, these neutrophils try to destroy viruses by releasing proteases and reactive oxygen species.

But these factors cause not only the destruction of viral particles but the alveolar walls. So, fluid entering the alveoli from the capillary bed increases further.



Due to the above mentioned serial events, Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs.

That is characterized by increased work of breathing resulting from impairment of surfactant production,  resulting in increased capillary collapsibility.

All these impair the alveolar air exchange resulting in hypoxia ( deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues) which leads to multisystemic organ failure, all over the body.

Increased respiratory rate can be seen as a compensatory mechanism for hypoxemia ( lower dissolved oxygen level in blood plasma than normal range).

So, in treatments, the patients infected by COVID-19, should be helped with a ventilator to breathe properly. Dry cough and fever are also associated with this epidemic.

Early management is essential for saving patients' lives because it helps to prevent from worsening up to ARDS.

Basic protective measures suggested by WHO (world health organization) against COVID-19 are below. 

 # Clean and disinfect your hands, touched objects, and surfaces. 
 # Cough or sneeze in your bent elbow-not on your hands.
 # Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
 # Avoid close contact with anyone sick.
 # Limit social gatherings

So, at first, take care of your health and then protect others.

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