COVID 19 DISEASE IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE

Coronavirus disease (COVID 19) is an infectious disease caused by the recently discovered novel coronavirus. It has been classified as pandemic by world health organization due its global spread. COVID 19 is having a negative impact on economic and social system of different countries. The virus that causes COVID 19 was first discovered after the outbreak in Wuhan city (CHINA).

Severity of COVID 19 majorly depends on immune system of individual with individual having compromised immune system experiencing severe symptoms. Majority of the population experiencing this being the old.

Its documented by worldometer and CHINA-WHO joint report 2020 that having the following conditions lowers the survival chances of individual once infected by COVID 19.  In this order:

•  Cardiovascular diseases
•  Diabetes
•  Hypertension
•  Chronic respiratory diseases
•  Cancers

According to the research done by Wang et al, the symptoms of this diseases majorly include:

1. ·         Fever
2. ·         Fatigue
3. ·         Dry cough

Other symptoms include: chills, anorexia, malaise, joint pain, pneumonia, productive cough (with sputum production), dyspnea, organs failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, hemoptysis and septic shock.

Some people are asymptomatic, they have few chances of transmitting the disease because it majorly transmitted through droplets of mouth and nose produced while coughing.

According to data in CHINA-WHO REPORT 2020;

•   80.9% of the cases reported are mild with flu like symptoms which can recover without treatment.
•  13.8% of the reported cases are severe with pneumonia and apnea symptoms.
•   4.7% of the cases are in critical condition with respiratory failure, septic shock and multiple organ failure symptoms. (this category will be admitted in ICU)

As at 24^th march 2020, 468,577 cases of COVID 19 had been confirmed globally by worldometer live updates. 134,624 cases having been closed with 113,817 recoveries and 21,185 deaths. 333,575 case are still active cases under care of medics. And among this active cases, 318,678 (representing 96% of the active cases) are mild cases with hope of full recovery while 14,897(14%) cases are critical but still hopeful of recovery but data shows that death cases were reported from the critical patients. Therefore, over 80% of those who contact COVID 19 are expected to recover(heal)

Europe has the highest prevalence and mortality rate of COVID 19 with WHO reporting 220,516 and 11,986 confirmed cases and deaths respectively in Europe out of 414,179 global confirmed cases and 18,440 deaths as it was reported on 25^th March 2020. This represents a prevalence of 53.2 % and mortality rate of 5.4% against the current global estimated mortality rate of 2%. Most of the current world transmission originates from Europe.  

Most deaths have been recorded in Italy. As at 25^th march 2020, a total of 7,503 deaths were reported by WHO which represent 35.4% of the total deaths reported. Followed closely by Spain 3,445(18.7%) death and China 3281 (17.8%) deaths 

According the data published by china in collaboration with WHO in February 2020, among 72,314 individuals studied analyzed of which, most deaths were experienced in old age above 80 years old representing 21.9% of the confirmed cases.  Very cases were reported to people aged 0-9 years only 416 cases were reported which represent only 0.9% of the reported case with 0 death recorded. 10-19 years also recorded few cases of the disease with only 549 cases recorded representing 1.2% of the total confirmed cases and 0.2% of the death. The data shows that death of individuals with age below 50 years being only 1.2 % of the total deaths.

In conclusion, we should try to flatten the transmission curve by following the prevention measures given by the local authority and world health organization. They include:

• .      Rubbing hands with soap and running water or using the recommended alcohol based sanitizer.
• .       Keeping social distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet).
• .      Staying at home esp. when you have COVID 19 like symptoms and calling the relevant authority for further direction
• .      Staying updated with latest COVID 19 relevant authority.
• .      Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose.
• .      Follow good respiratory hygiene, use your bent elbow or clean towel to cover your mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing.
• follow directives issued by local government.

            

Reference

1.      Jama wang et all,2020. “Clinical characteristic of 138 hospitalised patients with COVID 19 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia in Wuhan,China.”

2.      Who-china joint mission on corona disease 2019, FEB 2020.

3.      https:www.worldometers.info

   by Osuka E. Joseph.
                25^th March 2020