Health Issues: What’s New in COVID-19 | News, Sports, Work

Conway McLean, DPM, Journal Columnist

The fear of the COVID-19 pandemic is growing, some unfounded and some appropriate. As with other new infections, it takes time and research to learn the complexity of new infections, especially those that are complex and variable, such as the SARS virus. There are many infectious respiratory diseases, from legionellosis to measles, influenza to corona. Viruses differ from bacteria in many ways, but both have existed on Earth for millions of years.

By definition, viruses are not considered truly alive because they do not have the ability to replicate themselves. A virus is a bundle of DNA or RNA that has no cellular device to replicate unless it can invade the cells of an organism. The virus invades several plants and animals, effectively hijacking host cell mechanisms and releasing more individual viral particles. However, they can be annoying and cause many illnesses, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Although COVID-19 is brand new (ie) “novel”) Virus, we learned a lot about it. We now know that these viral particles can spread through mist-like aerosols. This aerosol remains in the air for some time. Furthermore, it is clear that taste and olfactory loss is a reliable indicator of COVID infection, regardless of other symptoms.

Various skin conditions appear to be associated with SARS-CoV2 (the name of the COVID-19 virus), but a clear explanation for these has not yet been determined. Changes in the skin include a measles-like rash, blisters, and reddening of the fingers in response to the cold. This latter variation, labeled COVID Toes, was the earliest recognized skin change.

The relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes may be of greater concern to physicians around the world. On the one hand, diabetes is associated with an increased risk of serious complications from COVID-19 infection. According to a study, about 25% of patients who died of COVID-19 had diabetes. On the other hand, new onset diabetes is common in people with COVID-19.

Children and adults respond to many infectious diseases and produce different types and amounts of antibodies. This also applies to infections caused by the new coronavirus. The difference in antibodies suggests that most children can easily get rid of the virus from their bodies.

One of the most important questions about this new illness seems to be about mortality. How deadly is COVID? This question cannot be answered accurately due to insufficient testing. People with minimal symptoms are tested much less often than those with significant signs of infection. This means that our number is distorted and not the exact number of confirmed cases. Mortality is the ratio of virus deaths divided by infections. Therefore, the total number of infections is artificially reduced due to the large number of undetected cases. The effect is to make the virus look more deadly than it really is.

The mortality rate of SARS CoV-19 virus is affected by multiple factors, including the general health status of each population. Healthcare system conditions in any part of the world have a clear impact on the number of people who have survived COVID respiratory infections. Nevertheless, obesity is the most important factor in the development of severe respiratory complications. Among people with COVID-19, obese people are at increased risk of hospitalization, ICU admission, invasive ventilation, and death, according to multiple studies. People with a BMI of 35 or higher have a dramatically increased risk of death. This population is at greater risk and requires special precautions such as social distance, mask use and disinfection.

Research is underway at centers around the world working on the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. Global trials involving tens of thousands of participants are well underway in the hope of more clearly defining the efficacy of each version of the vaccine. A Middle Eastern country has begun vaccination of front-line workers with a vaccine developed by the Chinese. These are the latest in some countries that have given urgent approval for the vaccine before completing safety trials. Russians have already begun mass vaccination less than two months after human testing.

Some distress makes us more susceptible to complications from COVID-19 infection, but there are some simple steps we can take to reduce the severity. Studies show that patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who had adequate vitamin D levels had a significantly reduced serious outcome and a lower risk of death. Another study found that people with sufficient vitamin D levels had a 54% reduced risk of getting COVID-19.

Doctors recognize that people suffering from COVID-19 are at increased risk of coagulation problems. This condition can form blood clots in the heart, other organs, or lungs, called pulmonary embolism, all dramatically increasing the chances of death. Recent research reveals that simple, inexpensive aspirin may help those suffering from it survive by reducing the chances of these blood clots forming. Interestingly, the latest research shows that COVID-19 does not independently increase the risk of pulmonary embolism and other coagulation problems. Instead, the risk of forming these blood clots is not higher than in patients hospitalized for other illnesses.

As a novel, a new virus, much was unknown about the behavior and risk of this infection. The SARS-CoV2 virus has been shown to spread twice as fast as influenza. If left unchecked, it has the ability to run through groups like wildfires.We know the virus “dose” It can affect the severity of the disease. This means that masks and social distance can reduce illness. We know that the majority of the US population remains unexposed and vulnerable. We know that some of these people will die if infected.

In the last few months, I’ve learned a lot about COVID-19 and its associated pneumonia. We know how to avoid intubation for as long as possible and use corticosteroids more effectively to treat some of the viral consequences. The mortality rate is not yet known, but its pathogenicity is amazing. And we know this is not like the flu.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Conway McLean is a doctor practicing foot and ankle medicine on the Upper Peninsula and has moved his Marquette office to the downtown area. McLean offers international lectures on wound care and surgery and is certified as a double board for surgery and wound care. He specializes in ankle braces. Dr. McLean welcomes questions and comments at drcmclean @ outlook.com.