When and where did the COVID 19 disease start?
COVID 19 disease was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) China office on December 31, 2019, in Wuhan city, where approximately 11 million people live in the Hubei region. Reported as an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown origin. On January 7, 2020, the microorganism causing this epidemic was determined to be a new coronavirus (nCoV).
On January 30, 2020, the epidemic was recognized as a public health emergency of international concern, and on February 11, 2020, WHO He named the new coronavirus disease COVID-19. The international committee working on viruses named nCoV as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and on March 12, WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.
COVID 19 disease spread throughout the world and How did it spread in our country?
The coronavirus epidemic, which started in China, spread to all countries of the world in a short time and caused a significant number of deaths.
The first case was seen in Thailand on January 13, in Japan on January 15, and in Korea on January 20, and it was reported that 6 people died in the city of Wuhan. It later emerged in countries such as Iran, the United States, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia and spread to European countries, starting from France on January 25, 2020.
The first COVID-19 case in Turkey was reported by the Ministry of Health. It was announced on March 10, 2020, and the first death due to the disease occurred on March 15, 2020.
What is being done in the world and in our country to prevent its spread?
There are social and personal measures to prevent the spread of the infection. In this context, although collective activities, intercity and intercountry travel were initially restricted in almost all countries, a controlled transition to normal life was achieved in the summer months, but with the increase in the number of patients in the autumn, restriction measures were returned. Today, these measures are still implemented and personal protection measures are prioritized, especially within the framework of mask-distance-cleaning rules.
Features of the causative virus:
Coronaviruses are enveloped, single-chain RNA viruses. is. It is known that 4 types of coronaviruses (hCoV-229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1) cause mild diseases such as upper respiratory tract infections and colds in humans. It is stated that coronaviruses of animal origin (SARS-CoV 2002, MERS-CoV 2012 and the new type of coronavirus nCoV-2019) can cause fatal respiratory failure in humans.
It has been determined that coronaviruses bind to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the cell with the Spike (S)-protein on them, and that they settle and multiply especially in respiratory system epithelial cells and intestinal cells, causing disease.
Clinical Findings
While COVID-19 disease is largely asymptomatic or mild (80%), it can sometimes lead to severe pneumonia and death. It is generally more severe in individuals over the age of 60 and in individuals with comorbidities such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and cancer. It is rarer and milder in children. The classic symptoms and signs of the disease, which has an incubation period of 1-14 days (average 5-6 days), include high fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, fatigue and, more rarely, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, bilateral ground glass-like involvement is observed on lung tomography.
Diagnosis of the Disease
The diagnosis of COVID-19 disease can be made by detecting the genetic material of the virus in the sample taken from the patient using molecular microbiological methods. RdRp and variable S genes are tried to be detected with RT-PCR kits specific for 2019-nCoV in nasopharyngeal swab or saliva samples taken from COVID-19 suspected patients with high fever, international travel, contact with individuals with coronavirus, and people who have been in contact with these patients. In addition, serum immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG are also checked to detect individuals who are active or have had the disease.
Spread of the Disease
It is known that the transmission of COVID-19 occurs mostly through droplets to people in close contact with symptomatic patients and through direct contact with people infected with the virus. Social isolation and protection are extremely important to prevent spread. Virus-laden droplets released into the environment by sneezing, coughing and exhaling It may come into contact with the nasal mucosa and eye mucosa (conjunctiva). For this reason, WHO states that healthcare personnel must protect their eyes, mouth and nose (glasses, masks, special filter masks such as N95, FFP2, FFP3, face shields) in contact with a patient suspected of having COVID-19.
SARS-CoV-2 and Eye Involvement
It is known that some coronaviruses cause conjunctivitis in humans. It has been shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus also has ACE2 and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) receptors that can attach to the ocular surface, and this has been a matter of debate in terms of direct virus infection and transmission.
Studies show that 7% of COVID 19 positive patients have positive conjunctival swabs, but transmission via the eye surface is not very common; It has been reported that the lack of tear proteins that protect the eye surface and the attachment targets of the virus may play a role in this.
It is stated that COVID-19 eye involvement can be in the form of conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis, retinitis and neuritis, of which conjunctivitis is the most common. It should also be kept in mind that conjunctivitis may be the first sign of a patient in the pre-symptomatic period and viral transmission is possible during the incubation period.
Also, it should not be forgotten that conjunctivitis may occur with other viruses other than COVID-19 during this period.
1. The most frequently asked question: Contact lenses? Glasses?
2. It has not been shown that CL use is riskier than glasses.
3. However, compliance with the following general rules is very important:
4. 1- Hands should be washed frequently with soap and water,
5. 2- Contact lens cases should belong to the person and care should be taken to clean them,
6. 3- Preferably, disposable lenses should be used alternatively with glasses,
4- The patient with possible symptoms should stop using CL and consult a doctor,
5- Contact lenses should be used under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. should be installed and checked regularly
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