The corona virus is an infectious disease that can cause various flu-like symptoms. Here's what you should know about the virus.
How do I recognize the corona virus?
The corona virus SARS-CoV-2 is an infectious disease that is primarily transmitted from person to person via droplet infection, the respiratory tract and can cause flu-like symptoms. Since the complaints of the current pandemic are quite unspecific and fit for various respiratory diseases, it is difficult for laypeople to reliably identify an infection.
So far there are no effective medicines or vaccination against the coronavirus, Therefore, compliance with the applicable hygiene measures is the best protection against this. The coronavirus first appeared in the Hubei province of China at the end of 2019 and spread from there to all over the world
SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19?
SARS-CoV-2 is the correct name for the virus itself, COVID-19 describes the disease that the viruses trigger.
Overview of symptoms
Most frequently sufferers in this country suffer from the following symptoms:
- Cough, especially dry, irritable cough
- fever
Some patients also show symptoms such as shortness of breath, body aches, headaches and / or sore throats. In fact, there are also symptom-free sufferers who do not even notice that they are infected. Still others develop severe pneumonia or lung failure, which can cause the so-called acute shortness of breath syndrome (ARDS).
This leads to water retention in the lungs, which worsens the oxygen uptake in the blood. As a result, the organs are no longer adequately supplied with oxygen. Patients must be treated in the intensive care unit and artificially ventilated. In the worst case, ARDS can lead to death.
Coronavirus transmission routes
When droplets are infected, the viruses enter the air through the finest droplets when sneezing or coughing and can thus affect other people's mucous membranes. It is assumed that the droplets can fly up to two meters. Those who are unconsciously infected can therefore easily transmit the corona virus through close contact with other people without realizing it.
In theory, an infection can also be transmitted via a smear infection. That includes e.g. B. shaking hands and touching surfaces such as door handles or handrails if you then touch your face with unwashed hands.
Researchers are currently investigating how long the viruses can survive on different surfaces. Initial tests show, for example, that the virus is detectable on plastic for up to three days. So far there has been no proven case of surface transfer, but the risk cannot be excluded.
Incubation period and risk
The incubation period refers to the period between the infection and the onset of the disease. With corona virus, the experts assume that the incubation period is often between five and seven days, but can also take up to 14 days. Many patients notice the first symptoms about four days after infection.
In theory, everyone can get coronavirus, but there are also risk groups. This includes older people aged 50 and over and people with previous illnesses, e.g. B. cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. These risk groups are not only more likely to have a severe disease course, they are also more likely to die from the infection.
Course of the disease and treatment
The symptoms of mild to moderate infections sound, according to information from the World Health Organization (WHO) usually after about two weeks. Those who have a severe to very severe course of the disease can suffer from coronavirus complaints for between three and seven weeks.
Since no medication is available so far, the treatment is primarily about alleviating the symptoms. For that you should take care drink a lot and, after consultation with the doctor, take painkillers or antipyretic. If there is an acute shortage of air, the emergency doctor must be called immediately!
Am I immune after infection?
Too little is known about the pathogen to be able to say that immunity is enjoyed after a single infection. A small study on rhesus monkeys shows that the animals were immune after infection and did not fall ill again even at higher virus concentrations. However, this result is not directly transferable to humans – only in a few months will researchers be able to make clear statements about immunity in humans.
How do I protect myself from being infected with the corona virus?
Currently, the best protection against infection is still to follow hygiene rules and avoid contact with other people. If possible, you stay at home as much as possible. Those who cannot do this should keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters from other people in public. Hygiene measures include:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water
- Don't touch your face
- Cough or sneeze either in a tissue, which is immediately disposed of, or in the elbow
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