September 25, 2023 – As we proceed to live with it COVID-19Patients and doctors are learning more concerning the the explanation why infections can range from asymptomatic to very serious. Many researchers and doctors consider that inflammation is the cause severe COVID. This is since the virus causes a “cytokine storm” which may affect organs in a patient's body, including the center and lungs.
New research from Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin, nevertheless, indicates that bacterial pneumonia is the reason behind many severe COVID deaths. There was no evidence of inflammation in any respect within the deceased COVID patients examined. Instead, using machine learning to investigate data, the researchers found that half of the critically unwell COVID patients who required a ventilator had bacterial pneumonia as a secondary infection. They found no evidence of cytokine storm in these patients; Instead of dying from organ damage or organ failure resulting from COVID, they died from pneumonia.
“Seriously ill patients who recovered from pneumonia had a higher chance of survival,” he said Benjamin D. Singer, MDSenior creator of the study, professor of pulmonary medicine and pulmonary and significant care physician at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
However, other researchers don't refute the thought of cytokine storms in COVID. Cytokines are chemicals released when an individual's immune system overreacts to an infection. Too many cytokines are toxic and may result in organ failure. It has been suggested that cytokines are released in COVID-19 inflammation that may circulate through the body and cause death.
A new study for instance, from CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology in Chandigarh, India, and MM Engineering College in Ambala, India, found that controlling this inflammatory factor is crucial for treating COVID. Italian researchers also find that hyperinflammation clearly plays a task in severe disease in COVID patients.
Additional recent research shows that certain bacteria can have negative consequences for COVID patients. A study from New York University's Grossman School of Medicine found that bacteria from the gut can enter the blood of patients with severe COVID. “Bacteria circulating in the blood may accelerate complications in these COVID patients,” said the study co-author Jonas Schlüter, PhD from the Institute of Systems Genetics and Assistant Professor of Microbiology at NYU Grossman in New York City.
Can these results impact patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who could also be at high risk for complications? Possibly yes. A vital aspect of the Northwestern study is that it highlights the importance of screening susceptible COVID patients for pneumonia as quickly as possible. The excellent news: Patients who test positive can immediately check with their doctor about their risk aspects and get the treatment they need to forestall serious illness.
Who is prone to severe COVID illness?
The CDC reports that anyone who just isn't vaccinated is in danger for severe COVID. Other aspects include:
- Be over 50, especially over 65 years old
- They have underlying medical conditions reminiscent of asthma and other respiratory diseases, diabetes, heart disease, HIV, kidney disease, liver disease, weakened immune systems and obesity.
- Be pregnant
- Be physically inactive
- be a smoker
Which symptoms of COVID are emergency warning signs?
Accordingly the CDCSymptoms of COVID, which may range from mild to severe, include:
- Fever
- chills
- A cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty respiration
- fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Body pain
- Headache
- Loss of taste
- Loss of smell
- Sore throat
- traffic jam
- Runny nose
- nausea
- Vomit
- Diarrhea
The following symptoms indicate a potentially more serious or critical course of COVID-19:
- Difficulty respiration
- Chest pain
- Pressure on the chest
- confusion
- Problems waking up
- Difficulty staying awake
- Pale, gray or blue skin, lips or nail beds
Anyone experiencing all or any of those symptoms should call 911 immediately and state that they're a confirmed or possible case of COVID.
How is severe COVID treated?
If a patient tests positive and has risk aspects, their doctor may prescribe one in every of three medications to forestall disease progression: molnupiravir, Paxlovidor Remdesivir. If a patient is admitted to the hospital, anti-inflammatory drug therapy will also be carried out along with blood plasma therapy.
Patients are also treated for all other infections, which is why it is crucial to notify healthcare providers immediately of any recent symptoms.
What could be done to forestall severe COVID-19 illness?
Get vaccinated and boosted first. “It is the best way to prevent the likelihood of serious illness,” Singer said. “It is very rare for a fully vaccinated COVID patient to become seriously ill in the intensive care unit.”
If a patient tests positive and respiratory symptoms worsen, they need to ask their doctor for a pneumonia evaluation. Antibiotics are sometimes required to treat a co-infection, and Schlüter had some unexpected but essential advice: Stop eating junk food immediately. “You shouldn’t eat garbage because antibiotics and sweets don’t mix,” he warns. “Sugar from your diet, when combined with antibiotics, can worsen the damage to organs in your body. COVID can start a forest fire in your body. If you don’t eat too much sugar, it can put out the flame.”
The most vital thing: take all prescribed medications, isolate for at least 5 dayswear a high quality N95 or KN5 mask when around others and don't stress. Taking these steps means a patient is doing every thing right and every thing possible to attain the mildest possible end result from COVID-19.