The novel coronavirus has taken the world by storm, affecting more than 1 million people all around the world and claiming the lives of more than 64,000 people. The outbreak of this virus was so extreme that the WHO declared it as a pandemic in March 2020.
COVID-19: When All Hell Broke Loose
The outbreak of this virus, also known as SARS-COV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) initiated from China where it infected more than 1 million people and claimed 53,000 lives.
This virus is said to be a novel strain of the virus family commonly attributed to cold, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and its origin are still obscure. Scientists from all over the world are carrying out multiple research projects to address the origin and cure of coronavirus. Some scientist groups have suggested that the virus originated from bats or pangolins.
Symptoms and Treatment of Coronavirus
Scientists and health workers are still struggling to find a cure for coronavirus. Currently, no vaccines or medicine can cure coronavirus.
Ivermectin
Research led by Monash University suggests that the Ivermectin vaccine can be the possible cure of the COVID-19. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug and is found to kill the virus within 48 hours. However, the proper human dosage hasn’t been found yet and it is still in the pre-clinical trial phase.
Chloroquine
Some research studies suggest that Chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, can reduce the symptoms of the virus, however, the correct dosage of the drug is still unknown. This drug can also cause cardiac complications and hence the FDA has advised the masses to stay away from all such medications unless prescribed.
Symptomatic Treatment of Coronavirus
The common symptoms of the COVID-19 are:
- High fever
- Dry cough
- Runny nose
- Difficulty in breathing
- Lethargy
- Body pain
- Loss of sense of smell and taste
- Sore throat
Doctors are suggesting taking pain-relieving medicines, cough syrups, increasing fluid intake and resting as there is no vaccine yet.
Self-Isolation and Social Distancing
The incubation period of the novel COVID-19 is two weeks. The infected individuals might start to experience the symptoms of the disease within two to 14 days of exposure. The symptoms of the virus vary from individual to individual, in some cases, a person might be a carrier of the virus, that is, the virus doesn’t show any symptoms at all in the carrier’s body but the carrier can still transfer it to other people where the virus can prove to be fatal, so everyone is advised to stay in self-isolation to prevent the spread of this disease.
