An expert on COVID-19 infections explains why some people fall ill more seriously than others. Michael Barczok is a pneumologist and explains: „80 percent of all people fall ill easily, which means that they feel little or no symptoms. The mild course of the disease is characterized by the involvement of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, larynx and upper respiratory tract as well as the eyes, albeit in an attenuated form. A severe course is seen in 15 percent of those infected with the coronavirus. They have a cough, high fever and a loss of their sense of taste and smell. Complications occur in 5 percent of those affected, as the virus migrates deeper into the lung tissue and causes pneumonia. The oxygen supply can be so disrupted that one percent of all infected persons have to be ventilated. As is well known, the disease can then also lead to death. The critical point of the disease is reached around the tenth day. This can vary (5th to 15th day). On the tenth day after the onset of the disease, it is usually decided whether someone is mildly or severely ill. According to Barczok, experts from Chinese surveys have adopted this knowledge. The severity of the disease depends on three different factors, as experts, including those from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), have found out. Factor one is the intrusion of the virus into the lungs. The decisive factor here is how deeply the corona virus penetrates. People whose cilia function well in the bronchial tubes are able to remove pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, but also pollen and dirt from the lungs. Smokers have extreme disadvantages here because the cilia are partially destroyed. The body’s immune defence also plays a decisive role, because old and sick people, as well as people with previous illnesses, have worse cards than people with strong immune systems. The viral load also determines the severity of COVID-19 disease, because small amounts of virus can be eliminated more quickly than extreme amounts, for example, if you are coughed on. However, there is another risk factor that also determines whether you recover quickly: people with high fever must be careful that the extremely high body temperature does not last too long, as this can lead to dehydration of the body. A fever is allowed, but not for too long or too high a temperature, explains the pneumologist. Antipyretic agents such as paracetamol should be used with caution and not immediately. However, when the fever is high, the body of the person affected needs a lot of fluids. Therefore, always think about a sufficient supply in the form of two to three litres per day. If this is neglected, the blood of the affected person thickens and the oxygen supply is thus not ensured in two ways: In pneumonia, the inflamed alveoli are unable to release enough oxygen into the bloodstream. In addition, the thickening of the blood now means that blood vessels thickened by thrombi no longer absorb oxygen well enough. As a result, the blood flow in other organs such as the kidneys and liver can also fail, which ultimately leads to multiple organ failure and possibly to death. Therefore, the expert recommends early intervention with plenty of fluids and cool compresses to lower the fever above 39 degrees, as well as drugs such as paracetamol instead of ibuprofen, because it works better in this case; light clothes and blankets, as well as well-circulating air exchange, are also beneficial. Sport is also taboo, but protection through bed rest is recommended. If breathing difficulties occur, you must act quickly and call an emergency doctor.
