Remembering what we know, confronting what we don't know.
We, as human beings, are faced with a virus that causes people to stay so far away from each other and spreads rapidly around the world, in uncertain times every day. We continue to live by keeping up with new developments.
At the end of 2019, someone far away from where we live was affected. Still, we entered 2020 unaffected and having fun. Our wishes were always related to the material world. We soon realized that after 2.5 months, we, too, started to be affected in our field. When we were impressed, all hell broke loose. Everyone was faced with the same virus at the same time, but what made the differences?
This question is still being answered.
In today's article, I would like to remind you of a summary of 2020 based on the questions we know the answers to. I want all of us to be in full health in 2021.
1. What is a pandemic?
It is a situation in which an epidemic disease spreads between continents and affects the masses over a wide area.
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 disease as a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
2. What is coronavirus?
The Orthocoronavirinae family is a family of enveloped RNA viruses. There are many viruses within the group. There is contamination from humans, camels, cattle, cats and bats. After the virus is inhaled and attached to the cell surface, the envelope part breaks down and the RNA genome settles into the cell.
Coronavirus has 4 structural proteins consisting of nucleocapsid, envelope, membrane and protein rod protrusions (corona = crown).
Alpha, beta, gamma and delta coronaviruses cause disease in humans.
10-20% of upper respiratory tract infections in humans are alpha type coronavirus infections. While the beta type was responsible for the SARS pandemics in 2002-2003 and MERS pandemics in 2012, today the 2019-2020 SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide.
3. Why is the disease called COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2)?
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It originated from a live animal market in Wuhan, China, on December 27, 2019. The first case was admitted to the hospital with complaints of high fever and cough and was diagnosed with pneumonia. e) was diagnosed. Later, Wuhan Seafood Market was closed as the number of patients applying from the same region with the same complaints and receiving the same diagnosis increased. During this period, mild cases could not be detected, but seriously ill patients were noticed and precautions began to be taken. Coronavirus was detected in the samples taken from these patients. In the approximately 15-day period from the application of the first patient to the detection of the virus, and from then on, it was considered a rapidly spreading and threatening virus, and China was declared a quarantine area by the World Health Organization (WHO) and border measures were recommended to other countries.
4 . How does coronavirus spread?
The virus is transmitted through droplets from the respiratory tract. Small virus particles of 80-90 nm in size, that is, 1/1000 of a micron, located in the mouth and throat cavity, spread to the external environment through respiratory reflexes such as speaking, coughing and sneezing. Viruses found in the external environment can remain viable for a maximum of 6-8 hours. Viral load gradually decreases over longer periods of time.
Viruses taken into our body through the respiratory tract enter the cells through ACE-2 receptors on the cell surface and begin to multiply. Both the damage caused by the virus itself in the cell and the vascular damage caused by bleeding cause symptoms and findings to appear in all systems and cause the disease to be widely seen.
5. What are the symptoms of COVID-19 disease?
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Fever,
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Sore throat,
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Hoarseness,
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Headache,
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Nausea, diarrhea
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Decrease in the sense of taste and smell,
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Muscle and joint pain,
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Dry cough and shortness of breath ,
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Skin rashes.
6. Who are those at risk against the disease?
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Those with weak immune systems,
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People over 65 years of age,
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People with chronic diseases,
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Healthcare workers,
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Individuals who smoke.
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Healthcare workers.
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Individuals who smoke. p>
7. Why is it more common in children? It is rare?
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The number of receptors that help the coronavirus enter the cell is low.
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The distribution of these receptors in organ systems is low.
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Children's immune responses are low.
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For this reason, the viral load that children are exposed to is lower and the disease is less common than adults.
8. Is there a treatment for the disease?
Since COVID-19 is a viral infection disease, there is no known cure, and therefore, prevention of the disease is much more important than treatment.
By providing social immunity with vaccination, protection will still be provided.
9. Why is it so important to protect and protect against the disease?
The fact that there are people who carry the disease without showing any symptoms and that these people cannot be detected accelerates the transmission and spread of the disease.
The rate of carriers in our society is approximately 40%. It is 60.
Contagiousness decreases in people who have the disease. Since not everyone who has the disease has sufficient immunity, having the disease does not mean giving up personal protection and precautions.
10. What are the basic rules of protecting from the disease?
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It is necessary to comply with personal health measures and be cautious.
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It is necessary to use the mask in accordance with the rules.
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It is necessary to use the mask in accordance with the rules.
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Hand cleaning with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the most important method of protection.
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Avoiding touching our face with our hands and avoiding close contact with other people. Avoidance helps prevent the transmission of viruses.
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The virus can survive on inanimate surfaces for 2 hours to 7 days. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to surface cleaning (70% alcohol and bleach).
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Paying attention to our personal nutrition and keeping our immune system alive reduces the damage that the virus will cause to our cells.
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It is necessary to pay attention to our sleep patterns.
11. Should we be vaccinated?
Definitely, yes.
Vaccines are the only rule to ensure social immunity and reduce the burden of the pandemic and end it within years.
COVID-19 vaccine, 18 to children under age and will not be given to pregnant women.
It is necessary to receive the first vaccine, which will be provided with the results of the effectiveness (Phase 3) and effectiveness (Phase 4) studies of the vaccines. CoronaVac, an inactive Coronavirus vaccine produced by Sinovac company in our country, has started to be administered as of 14.01.2021.
12. What will happen after vaccination?
After vaccination, life will continue the same way. We will need to continue the same measures for a while longer.
Vaccines are of primary importance in creating herd immunity. In order for this immunity to occur, 85% of the society must be vaccinated or overcome the disease with natural immunity.
For this reason, we must be careful to wear our mask properly, pay attention to the cleanliness of our hands and general cleanliness, and not mix with crowds unless necessary.
The truth is one and science is the only truth.
What we know at the end of the first year we spent with the pandemic is that this process will continue. If we continue to live by accepting this fact that we do not know, our life will be so healthy, balanced and harmonious.
I wish you all healthy days.
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