FLJ46906
Coronavirus: An Overview
Description
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory tract infections ranging in severity from the common cold to potentially fatal diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). They can affect both humans and animals.
The virus has a crown-like appearance under a microscope, which is how it got its name. It is responsible for:
- Common cold: Occurs in mild upper respiratory tract infections with symptoms such as runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and sore throat.
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): A viral respiratory disease that emerged in China in 2002-2003 and spread to over 30 countries, causing severe pneumonia and respiratory failure.
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS): Another viral respiratory disease that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since been reported in other countries in the Middle East and beyond.
- COVID-19: A novel coronavirus disease that emerged in Wuhan, China in 2019 and has become a global pandemic.
Associated Diseases
Other than the respiratory diseases mentioned above, coronaviruses have also been linked to the following conditions:
- Gastrointestinal issues: Some coronaviruses can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
- Meningitis: A rare but serious condition involving inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
- Encephalitis: A rare but life-threatening inflammation of the brain.
- Neonatal diarrhea: A severe form of diarrhea that can affect newborn animals and humans.
Did you Know ?
- In 2020, COVID-19 became the leading cause of death in the United States.
