Covid pneumonia happens due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes covid-19 or coronavirus infection. Covid pneumonia is the advanced stage of covid-19 infection. The virus attacks the respiratory tract, and its primary symptom is shortness of breath. It can limit the supply of oxygen in the body, which can cause severe breathing difficulties. It is a life-threatening infection that needs immediate medical assistance.
The general treatments available for covid pneumonia include:
Antivirals
Antiviral medications destroy the viruses that can contribute to lung infections like covid pneumonia. Your healthcare provider will suggest some tests to identify the type of germs that are affecting your lungs. If the cause of infection is the SARS-CoV-2 virus, then they will prescribe an appropriate antiviral drug, which fights off these viruses, inhibits their growth, and prevents them from causing any more damage to your lungs.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medications that treat pneumonia, which is particularly caused because of bacterial infection. You might be prescribed antibiotic medications by your healthcare provider in case you have tested positive for a bacterial infection along with a coronavirus infection. Moreover, The combination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and bacteria can severely damage the lungs and lead to serious forms of pneumonia.
These medications weaken all the bacteria that affect the lungs and aid your immune system in killing off infectious bacteria and preventing their growth and multiplication efficiently.
Supplemental oxygen
The infection can leave your airways badly damaged. The air sacs of your lungs are responsible for aiding the exchange of air between the lungs and the blood. Moreover, This is how oxygen gets added to your bloodstream. But the infectious germs invade your lungs and in response to their action, your immune system releases white blood cells at the infected site.
The Immunes system’s response causes lung inflammation, which leads to the buildup of fluid in the air sacs. The fluid accumulation affects the movement of oxygen into the bloodstream, which is why such patients are provided with a supplemental oxygen supply. The patient will be given extra oxygen by attaching an oxygen mask to their nose and mouth.
Intravenous (IV) fluids
Covid pneumonia can give rise to symptoms such as fever, which can cause sweating. Moreover, This can cause a loss of fluids from the body, thereby leaving you dehydrated. IV fluids can help restore lost fluids.
Mechanical ventilation
The infection can lead to severe breathing difficulties. The failure of movement of oxygen in the bloodstream and the fluid or pus accumulation within the air sacs or alveoli makes it difficult to breathe. Lack of enough oxygen in the body can cause hypoxemia, which can produce symptoms like headache, confusion, rapid heart rate, and pale or bluish skin. Moreover, This can damage your vital organs like the brain and heart. Therefore, such patients are put on mechanical ventilation support, which provides them with oxygen and prevents the risk of organ failure.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
The covid pneumonia infection can cause acute respiratory failure along with the development of hypoxemia. Moreover, This can potentiate the risk of heart failure and lung damage. However, this can be prevented with the help of Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which can be provided through an ECMO machine. It is a type of life support.
Lung aspiration
The fluid or pus accumulation in the lungs is the root cause of breathing problems. It is responsible for stopping the supply of oxygen into the body. Removal of these accumulated fluids can reverse breathing difficulties. It can be medically removed with the help of needles, a catheter, or through a surgical procedure.
Corticosteroids
Moreover, These are life-saving drugs that can alleviate lung inflammation and provide relief against chest pain and breathing problems in patients with severe lung damage.
Monoclonal antibodies
These are laboratory-made antibodies that imitate and act like the antibodies that are found in the human body. These are proteins that look for the presence of foreign elements such as germs, bacteria, viruses, etc., and if they find the foreign element, they stick to them to destroy them and prevent their growth and multiplication.
Steps to prevent covid pneumonia
- Keep up with covid- 19 vaccines.
- Moreover, Avoid crowded rooms that are having lack of ventilation. Poor ventilation can potentiate the risk of easy transmission of the disease. Always keep the windows and doors open and make sure the ventilation system is in good condition.
- Maintain a safe distance from people that are diagnosed with covid pneumonia. This will reduce the risk of transmission.
- If you suspect that might have contracted the infection due to the appearance of mild symptoms, then get yourself immediately tested. Also, staying home and taking adequate rest is necessary for speeding up the recovery. Avoid going out, which will eliminate the risk of spreading the infection to others.
- When the symptoms worsen, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention, otherwise, your condition might turn fatal.