History, Types And Symptoms Of Coronavirus

ACoronavirus is a life-threatening infectious virus disease that has badly impacted people across the globe. This virus mainly affects the respiratory tracts of birds and mammals, including human beings. The doctors associate this virus with respiratory illness (like flu) and along with other symptoms such as cold, cough, fever, and difficulty in breathing. Bronchitis, pneumonia, and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) can also be affected by this deadly virus.

History of Coronavirus

Human coronaviruses were first characterized and discovered in the year 1960s, these viruses were responsible for a substantial proportion of upper respiratory tract infections in children, and in the last 70 years, the scientists have found that coronaviruses can infect dogs, cats, mice, rats, pigs, horses, cattle and turkeys (a staple food).

As per researches, since 2003, around 5 new human coronaviruses have been identified. With the latest outbreak, it has been found that infected animals can transmit coronaviruses to humans. Sometimes, these animals can transmit coronaviruses to humans, and it has been proven when this virus spread in China last year in December 2019. Today, this virus has impacted almost countries within just 2 to 3 months. People also call it as coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Types of Human Coronavirus:

Coronaviruses belong from the family of Nidovirus. They are various types of viruses that affect the respiratory tract of mammals, including humans. According to the CDC, there are mainly 7 types of coronaviruses that can infect people, and they are:

Common Coronaviruses:

1. 229E (alpha coronavirus)
2. NL63 (alpha coronavirus)
3. OC43 (beta coronavirus)
4. HKU1 (beta coronavirus)

Other Human Coronaviruses

1. MERS – CoV (beta coronavirus – this virus can cause MERS {Middle East Respiratory Syndrome})
2. SARS – CoV (beta coronavirus – this virus can cause SARS {severe acute respiratory syndrome})
3. SARS – CoV -2 (novel coronavirus – this virus can cause COVID-19 {coronavirus disease 2019})

In common, people around the world generally get infected with human coronaviruses like 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1. These common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illness like a common cold.

Sometimes coronaviruses that infect animals can evolve and make people sick and become a new human coronavirus. These viruses are 2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV.

Symptoms of Human Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The symptoms of human coronavirus vary from person-to-person. COVID-19 may produce few, no severe symptoms. Severe illness may be fatal. The reported symptoms of this disease are:

• Fever
• Dry cough
• Tiredness
• Runny Nose
• Sore Throat
• Sneezing

• Breathlessness or breathing shortness
• The potential loss of taste or smell

It may take about 2–14 days for a person to identify symptoms after infection. As per today’s date, there is no vaccine available for treating COVID-19. However, scientists and doctors have now replicated the virus. With the help of the detection kit of COVID-19, it has allowed healthcare specialists to start possible available treatment in people who got infected with this virus.

According to NIH (The National Institutes of Health), several groups of people have the highest risk of developing health complications due to COVID-19. The groups of people include:

• People aged above 60 or older
• Young children
• Women who are pregnant

The CDC has advised that though there have been reports of complications in young children, those are rare. COVID-19 most commonly produces mild symptoms in children. COVID-19 badly affect people those an infected and they have a weak immune system (children, adults and old all people are under risk if their immune system is weak).

China’s National Health Commission have stated several other symptoms of a novel coronavirus, including tightness in the chest, breathing difficulty, dry and painful coughing. This disease continues to spread in Asia and across the world since it started in China. Coronavirus also has a strong potential for spreading increased transmissions between people.

Prevention and Treatment of Coronavirus

Health experts suggest that people can protect themselves with this deadly disease. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19). All the countries are struggling to make a successful vaccine that could treat their coronavirus infected people. The formula of coronavirus’ vaccine is under research. You should take a Self-Check if you are experiencing any of the above-given symptoms. This link of CDC will help to take a self-check to identify if you are fit or need health assistance. If you find a doubtful result or you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, then you should consult with a doctor for a cure immediately. He will decide the best treatment for you.

Preventing coronavirus is easy. Here are some tips to prevent coronavirus:

• Strictly maintain a social distancing and follow all the rules may set by your government to make social distancing successful.
  • To protect yourself, wash your hands frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds each time. Ask your family also to do so to prevent this virus
  • Do not touch your face, eyes and nose.
  • Maintain a distance while talking to somebody (at least 1 meter or 3 feet distance).
  • Use a mask to cover your face, especially when you go out of your home.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with hankie or tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze.
  • Wash all the fruits and vegetables before eating.
  • Eat properly, cook meat and eggs. If possible, try to avoid eating any kind of non-veg food.
  • Avoid contact from a person showing symptoms of respiratory illness.

Till then there is no cure and treatment available you should:

• Drink enough water
  • Consume vitamin C in great quantity (like lemon water, oranges, lime etc.)
  • Take proper rest and avoid overexertion.
  • Keep your house clean and well ventilated.