Covid 19, myths, trues, treatment and protecting measures

     Covid 19, the virus that changed life on Earth

     Covid 19 is a Sever Acute Respirator Syndrome generate by a coronavirus.

     The origin is not yet known for sure, but the fact that there are genetic similarities with a virus that manifests in bats suggests that they are the source.

      How this virus jumped from one species to another is still being studied but is already known that the viruses have the capacity in their evolutive process to change their hosts.

      Having a very high contagion and still unknown manifestations in the human body SARS-Cov2, makes the World Health Organization declare a pandemic in March 2020.

Myths  and trues about Covid 19

       1.5G mobile networks are spreading Covid 5.

       Viruses do not spread through radio waves or mobile networks. There are Covid 19 in areas where there is no 5G. The virus is spread mainly through droplets from a contagious person.

        Less often, the virus could be transmitted through contaminated surfaces.

        2.Frequent sun exposure and temperatures above 25 degrees can prevent the virus from spreading.

        Regardless of the temperature or sun exposure, there is the same risk of infection if the necessary insolation and hygiene conditions are not observed. Covid 19 is equally present in the sunnier and warmer countries as in the coldest.

        3.Infection with Covid 19 means that you will have it for life and you will never fully recover.

        The vast majority of people infected with Covid 19 can recover and get rid of this disease permanently. It is important to treat the symptoms correctly and seek medical attention in time.

        4.If you can hold your breath for at least 10 seconds without feeling discomfort, it means that you do not have Covid 19.

            This exercise can be dangerous and does not prove the absence of the disease, especially in asymptomatic cases. The only safe test method is laboratory tests.

         5.Regular alcohol consumption protects against Covid 19.

          Alcohol consumption does not protect against Covid 19 and the excess can lead to serious health problems.

         6.A hot bath prevents SARS-Cov2 disease

           Regardless of the temperature of the water in the bath or shower, the body temperature remains the same and the conditions for the virus to multiply are not affected in any way.

         7.The new coronavirus could be transmitted through insect bites.

          There is no scientific evidence that Covid 19 could be transmitted through insect bites.

         8.Thermometers can detect Coronavirus infection.

          Wrong, thermometers can only detect fever that can be caused by multiple other conditions. They can detect fever caused by Covid 19, but not the disease itself.

         9.The use of hand dryers protects against the spread of coronavirus.
          Only the correct sanitation with soap and water or the indicated disinfectants have the protective capacity. Hand drying can also be done with paper towels with the same effect as the dryer.

        10.Ultraviolet lamps kill the new coronavirus.

          There is no scientific evidence for this and the use of ultraviolet lamps is contraindicated because it causes irritation in exposed areas.

          11.The use of saline nasal solutions prevents the disease of Covid19.

         There is still no scientific evidence in this regard. Cleaning the nasal mucosa with saline is a healthy habit but not enough to protect against a possible infection.

           12.Regular consumption of garlic can prevent coronavirus infection.

          Garlic is a healthy food with antimicrobial effects, but the effect against Covid 19 has not been proven.

           13.The new coronavirus only affects the elderly.

           All age groups are equally exposed to infection, except that the elderly or those with pre-existing diseases are more vulnerable to developing severe forms of the disease.

          14.Antibiotics are effective in preventing and treating Covid 19.
          Antibiotics are used to treat diseases caused by bacteria, not viruses. Treatment with antibiotics during SARS-Cov2 disease is done only if there is bacterial co-infection.

Treatments and prognoses for Covid patients 19

To date, there is no specific drug recommended for the treatment of coronavirus. Covid 19 is currently treated based on pre-existed antiviral medication, on a case-by-case basis, depending on the severity of the symptoms, known allergies, and other pre-existing conditions.

         Some specific treatments are being investigated and tested by clinical trials. Huge efforts are being made to research and develop specific effective treatment.

         Percentage of Covid 19 infections does not have a very high mortality rate.

         The health status and virus susceptibility of a patient are important factors that need to be considered to develop a prognosis of the disease. Elderly individuals, patients with cardiovascular disease, and those with chronic underlying diseases have a poor prognosis

There are 2 levels of higher risk:

• Very high risk (also called extremely vulnerable)
• High risk

Very high risk groups (extremely vulnerable)

The list of people in very high risk groups include people who:

• are over 70 years of age – even if you’re fit and well
• have had an organ transplant
• are undergoing active chemotherapy for cancer
• are having radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
• have cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
• are having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
• are having other targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
• have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
• are on dialysis
• have unstable and severe cyst fibrosis. This includes people awaiting a transplant
• severe respiratory conditions including Appha1 antitrypsin deficiency, severe asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, lung fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, and severe COPD
• have a condition that means you have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell)
• are taking medicines (such as high doses of steroids)
• have a serious heart condition and you’re pregnant
• have specific inborn errors of metabolism

High risk groups

The list of people in high risk groups includes people who:

• are over 60 years of age
• have a learning disability
• have a lung condition that’s not severe (such as asthma, C.O.P.D, emphysema, or bronchitis)
• have heart diseases
• have hypertension
• have diabetes
• have chronic kidney diseases
• have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
• have a medical condition that can affect your breathing
• have cancer
• have clinically stable cystic fibrosis
• have a weak immune system
• have cerebrovascular disease
• have a condition affecting your brain or nerves (such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy)
• have a problem with your spleen or have had your spleen removed
• have a condition that means you have a high risk of getting infections (such as HIV, lupus, or scleroderma)
• are taking low doses of steroids
• have obesity                                               
• are residents of nursing homes and other long-stay settings
• are in specialist disability care and are over 50 years of age or have an underlying health problem

The vaccine against Covid 19 and the hope of humanity to return to normal

•         On 21 December 2020, the European Commission confirmed it had granted conditional marketing authorization for Comirnaty, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the EU. This followed a recommendation from the EMA’s human medicines committee, the CHMP. 

       On 6 January 2021, the European Commission confirmed it had granted conditional marketing authorization for Covid 19 Vaccine Moderna, making it the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the EU. This followed a recommendation from the EMA’s human medicines committee, the CHMP

        It is very important to understand how Covid 19 vaccine works.

       Vaccines work by preparing a person’s immune system (the body’s natural defenses) to recognize and defend itself against a specific disease.

       Building immunity

       Most research on COVID-19 vaccines involves generating responses to all or part of a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID-19. When a person receives the vaccine, it will trigger an immune response. Most COVID-19 vaccines require two doses to build immunity.

         If the person is infected by the virus, later on, the immune system recognizes the virus. The system is then prepared to attack the virus.

   Bottom line

      The light at the end of the tunnel begins to glow.

      With the observance of the measures imposed by the authorities, with the help of the vaccine, with the observance of a healthy way of life that will naturally increase our immunity, we hope to recover soon from the most severe sanitary crisis of the last century.