What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are considered to be viruses which affect typically respiratory tracts of mammals, birds and humans. Medical experts associate it with bronchitis, common cold, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and pneumonia. It also affects the gut region. The latest coronavirus update is that they are responsible for the cause of common cold than resulting in serious diseases. It is also behind several severe outbreaks. Scientists studying on it for the last 7 decades have identified that coronaviruses may infect cats, dogs, rats, pigs, horses, cattle and turkeys. Such animals at times might transmit this virus to humans.

There are was no coronavirus prediction when the new outbreak was reported in China’s Wuhan province, which has now spiralled out of control and spread worldwide. The WHO recently had to declare it to be pandemic and named it COVID 19 or coronavirus disease 2019. After Black Plague, this is considered to be among the deadliest disease to be feared worldwide. Although each and every country has been taken its own coronavirus prevention measures, it is becoming tough to contain this disease to one area. With travellers returning back from China to their own countries, the virus is only finding opportunities to spread into new areas on a global scale. Even coronavirus symptoms in India are becoming wide scale, causing concerns among citizens of the country.

What is Coronavirus all about?

In 1937, researches had isolated for the first time a coronavirus. Coronavirus prediction done identified that it was responsible for birds to experience infectious bronchitis virus, thus causing destruction of poultry stocks.

Evidence of HCoV (human coronaviruses) was also found by scientists in 1960s in people’s noses with common cold. As per coronavirus update, OC43 & 229E are two human coronaviruses considered to be responsible for cause of common colds in large scale.

The term ‘coronavirus’, is derived from crown-like projections that appears on its surfaces. In Latin language, ‘Corona’ stands for ‘crown’ or ‘halo’.

Infections in humans of this type tend to occur during early spring and winter months. People may be affected with cold and become ill and might catch coronavirus within 4 months time. Coronavirus antibodies are not known to last for longer duration. Antibody for one coronavirus strain could be ineffective against the other. Unfortunately, there does not exist any complete cure for this virus, except for coronavirus prevention measures to be taken. Coronavirus symptoms in India has been on the rise with recently one death being confirmed due to this virus.

Symptoms

According to coronavirus prediction, the symptoms associated with this virus are flu or cold-like and sets typically within 2 to 4 days after getting infected and is quite mild. Symptoms might vary from one person to the other and few types can prove to be fatal. Few symptoms are:

• Exacerbated asthma
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Runny nose
• Sneezing

The latest coronavirus update states that unlike rhinovirus considered to be a cause for common cold, it is not possible for scientists to create human coronavirus in lab setting. Thus, trying to gauge its impact on public health and national economies can be difficult.

Unfortunately, except for coronavirus prevention measures, there does not exist any cure to treat people. Few treatments suggested by health experts are OTC medication and self-care tips. Several steps can be taken including:

• Avoiding overexertion & resting
• Avoiding smoky areas & smoking
• Drinking plenty of water
• Using cool mist vaporizer or clean humidifier
• Taking naproxen, ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever & pain

The doctor may diagnose this virus by taking out sample of some respiratory fluids like blood or mucus from nose.

Types

Studies have revealed that coronaviruses are part of the family Coronaviridae with subfamily Coronavirinae. Human coronaviruses of different types may vary in its severity and its impact on the area it spreads. Currently, doctors have recognized 7 kinds of coronavirus known to infect humans. The common types are:

• HKU1 – beta coronavirus
• OC43 – beta coronavirus
• NL63 – alpha coronavirus
• 229E – alpha coronavirus

MERS-CoV is among the rarer strains which results in severe complications causing MERS (Middle-East respiratory syndrome) and SARS-CoV. But COVID-19 was started due to circulating of new dangerous strain referred to as SARS-CoV-2 in 2019.

To prevent coronavirus symptoms in India, the concerned government authorities have stepped up their precautionary methods to save the citizens of the country.