Coronavirus Outbreak

Seven Different Forms Of Mild COVID-19 Identified: Researchers

According to researchers, seven groups of symptoms including “flu-like symptoms” with fever, chills, fatigue and cough, “common cold-like symptoms” with rhinitis, sneezing, dry throat and nasal congestion, and “joint and muscle pain” were identified among patients with mild COVID-19

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Highlights
  • COVID-19 leaves behind changes in immune system even after weeks: Experts
  • Experts studied 109 recovered COVID-19 patients and 98 healthy individuals
  • Our findings contribute to a better understanding of COVID-10: Experts

London: Scientists have shown that there are seven “forms of disease” in mild COVID-19, and that the novel coronavirus infection leaves behind significant changes in the immune system even after 10 weeks, findings which may aid in the treatment of patients, and in the development of a potent vaccine. The study, published in the journal Allergy, involving 109 recovered COVID-19 patients and 98 healthy individuals in the control group, showed that various symptoms related to COVID-19 occur in groups.

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In the research, scientists, including those from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria, identified seven groups of symptoms including “flu-like symptoms” with fever, chills, fatigue and cough, “common cold-like symptoms” with rhinitis, sneezing, dry throat and nasal congestion, and “joint and muscle pain”.

They said patients may also experience “eye and mucosal inflammation” symptoms, “lung problems” with pneumonia and shortness of breath, “gastrointestinal problems” including diarrhoea, nausea and headache, and “loss of sense of smell and taste and other symptoms”.

In the latter group we found that loss of smell and taste predominantly affects individuals with a ‘young immune system,’ measured by the number of immune cells — T lymphocytes — that have recently emigrated from the thymus gland. This means that we were able to clearly distinguish systemic (groups one and three) from organ-specific forms (groups six and seven) of primary COVID-19 disease, said Winfried F. Pickl, a co-author of the study from the Medical University of Vienna.

From the analysis, the scientists established that COVID-19 leaves behind long detectable changes in the blood of recovered patients, very similar to a fingerprint. Citing an example, they said the number of granulocytes, which are otherwise responsible in the immune system for fighting bacterial pathogens, is significantly lower than normal in the COVID-19 group.

Also Read: Festivals, Laxity In Adhering To Protocol Behind Surge In COVID-19 Cases In Delhi, Says Government

However, both the CD4 and CD8 T cell compartment developed memory cells and CD8 T cells remained strongly activated. This indicates that the immune system is still intensively engaged with the disease several weeks after initial infection, co-author Pickl explained.

According to the researchers, increased levels of antibody-producing immune cells were detected in the blood of recovered patients. The higher the fever of the affected patient during the mild course of the disease, the higher were the antibody levels against the virus, they said.

Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the disease and help us in the development of potential vaccines, since we now have access to promising biomarkers and can perform even better monitoring. Above all, the study shows that the human immune system “doubles up” when defending against COVID-19 with the combined action of immune cells and antibodies, the scientists said.

According to the study, the immune cells are also able to memorise certain “moves” on the part of the virus and respond to them.

Now it is a matter of implementing these findings and using them for the development of highly-effective COVID-19 vaccines, the researchers said.

Also Read: Students Of Indian Institute Of Technology, Madras Design Digital COVID-19 Awareness Game

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (WaterSanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene

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