Question

Answer the following questions about COVID.

1. Why do individuals may need to be on ventilators?  

2. How can this exacerbate to affect the whole body? This is the cytokine storm!)

3. What is pus and what produces it?  Describe the process of phagocytosis.  

4. List all of the reasons why Covid-19 will cause the lungs to not function as efficiently.

Answer 1

1. Why do individuals may need to be on ventilators?

Answer: Pateints with worst effects of infection shows severe respiratory distress. At that stage a ventilator provide best chance of survival. SARS-CoV-2 mainly effect upper respiratory tract i.e. lungs, under this condition patient's lungs doesn't work efficiently which will lead to breathing distress which will further lead to oxygen deficiency (Hypoxia) in body. So ventilator pump down oxygenated air( with moisture and temperature control facility according to patient's body temperature) into the wind pipe(trachea) through a tube.  

2. How can this exacerbate to affect the whole body? (This is the cytokine strom)

Answer: Firstly, Earlier it was believed that SARS-Cov 2 enters into body cells through upper respiratory tract only, because they contain the ACE2( Angiotensis Converting Enzyme 2) receptors. Which will bind to RGD domain of Spike(S) protein of SARS cov-2. But recent studies found that ACE2 receptors also present in kidney cells, gut epithelial cells, neurons etc. So it can infect any cell which will it bind to. Secondly, its come to immune response to this infection. Patients with severe symptoms shows over activation of white blood cells called "cytokine strom", which release inflammation stimulation substance into the blood called cytokine. Cytokine strom ultimately cause high fever, blood clot inside body, hypoxia, low blood pressure, acidosis of blood etc. This will mainly build up fluids inside alveoli of lungs which will block the gaseous exchange inside lungs. Misguided WBCs also attack healthy cells and organs like kidney, liver, heart, lungs, intestines, genitals etc causing Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS).

3. What is pus and what produces it? Describe the process of phagocytosis.  

Answer: Pus consist of degenerated leukocytes(WBCs), body cell debris and living or dead microbes. Pus is the result of body's innate immune response against an infection caused by microorganisms. Macrophages are specialized leukocytes present in various tissues of the body, can detect foreign organisms and releases a singalling molecule called "cytokine". Cytokines activates "neutrophills" to invade into the effected area from bloodstream. The invation of neutrophills to outside of blood vascular system is called "diapedesis". Accumulation of excess neutrophills leads to formation of pus.  

4. List all of the reasons why Covid-19 will cause the lungs to not function as efficiently.

Answer:

(a) The ACE2 receptors of epithelial cells of Upper Respiratory Tract is the gateway to SARS cov 2 virus to enter inside host cell. This ACE2 receptors mainly found in pharynx, trachea and lungs.  

(b) Severe condition cause pneumonia like symptoms that is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to filling up of alveoli with fluids secreted by viral product and immune response against infection.  

(c) Cytokine strom is the main cause which filling up of lungs with fluids causing inflammation in air sacs leading to Hypoxia, shortness of breath, caugh and other symptoms.  

(d) When infection reaches bloodstream and spread to all part of body its called "sepsis". It attacks heathy organs. So corporation between organs falls apart. Mainly seen in heart and lungs. Coordination between heart and lungs fails to cause stroke.