Why is the disease so different?: 5 factors that determine the course of Covid-19
In addition to the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions, which are particularly hard hit by the Coronavirus, one hears again and again of exceptions: Of the seniors, had, in spite of their age, only a mild infection, and from healthy young people, in which the Disease ended fatally.
What are the conditions to decide the severity of a disease course with Covid-19 fails, is still not clarified.
Nevertheless, two researchers at least bring some light into the darkness.
Microbiologist Arturo Casadevall of the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and the infections login Liise-anne Pirofski at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York disclose to ‘Bloomberg’ five factors, which influence the course of the disease decisively.
1. Virus dose
The number of pathogens with which the body a shock is faced, one can decide how he will be with the Virus.
There are only a few viruses, the immune system is comparatively easy to cope with them and the symptoms of the infection are usually milder.
In the case of a large number of viruses can lead to an avalanche-like spread, overwhelming the immune system.
As a result, more severe disease are usually observed gradients.
2. Infection path
Depending on which path the Virus is in the body, can differ from the subsequent symptoms of the disease vary considerably.
The Inhalation of the pathogen can cause a completely different immune response of the body as an infection, which is done by touching a contaminated surface, because it has rubbed in the connection, for example, the nose and so the of viruses in the body allows you to.
Nose, mucous membranes and lungs react differently to the Virus, according to the researchers.
3. Virulence
Viruses can differ in their aggressiveness, even if you have all of the same type belong to.
So, there are various mutations of the SARS-CoV-2-pathogen, which by their structure varies greatly in the human cells. One speaks of the virulence of the pathogen.
Depending on the Mutation to virulence, i.e. the ability of an organism to cause harm, therefore, weaker or disastrous fail can.
To have caught a virulenteren pathogens, therefore, there is a more severe disease course.
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4. Genetics
The corona viruses infect cells by attaching to their receptors on the cell surface. These receptors consist of specific proteins, which can vary from Person to Person very differently.
Someone has the luck that his cells with the necessary receptors for the Virus are missing, he is by nature against a Covid-19-infection immune and have no symptoms at all.
5. Immune status
In addition to genetics, some people still have a subconscious trump card in the pocket or in the body: your immune status.
The type and number of pathogens that the immune system had to fight in the past to decide how effective the body against new invaders can claim.
With a good immune status the immune system has learned, so to speak, from the past, and its combat mechanisms are optimized.
Differently it looks, if the Virus means that the immune system is complete new territory. It does not know what to do.
“This can allow the intruder to evade the detection, so he has more time to cause damage,” explain Casedevall and Pirofski.
Important note: The information in this article contains only General information. For the diagnosis of a health problem we recommend visiting by trained and recognised Physicians.
Larissa Bright Mouth
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