COVID-19: The Behavioral and symptomatological contrasts with other COVIs
In the facebook, the ‘corona’, in some cases, was a bit, the matter of playing truant by some Facebook friends (FBF), just to serve some joyful moments in the form of humor. Somebody gave a post in the Facebook putting the picture of a police officer pasting her name as ‘Corona’ on her ‘chest badge’. Well, that actually could be her name, although I thought it was as a photoshopped item.
So, I felt interests to learn about corona, if there was any other corona, why the name corona, what were the symptoms when corona acts as a disease on human being. In the beginning, I should say you that the objective of this write up was not to teach the readers about ‘corona’. But I myself wondered where the name ‘corona’ came from?
From the dictionary, I came to know that the ‘corona was the gaseous envelope of the sun’ which normally becomes visible only during a total solar eclipse. While, in medical science, anatomically, the ‘corona’ is a part of the body resembling or likened to a crown.
Corona eclipse, photo from internet
In case of this virus, the name ‘corona’ is given, as its structure looks like a ‘crown’ which is taken directly from the Latin word ‘corona’, meaning “garland, wreath or crown’’.
I then have learnt that this word ‘corona’ is being used worldwide, as ‘names’ of the many commercial products, organizations, music bands, persons, game, film, stadium, places, companies, in mathematics and many other basic sciences as well.
Many organizations and products in the world have name 'Corona', Photo: from internet
Previously I thought that this word was related to the heart disease as I had experience in the treatments for Coronary artery disease (CAD) of mine.
Corona (CO) virus (VI) disease (D) 2019 was first identified in Wuhan of China at the end of 2019 which is now well circulated as COVID-19 worldwide. It is reported that the corona is a virus, like the MARS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) or SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS corona virus or CoV). Popularly it is called Covid-19 or Novel Corona virus (nCoV), but the well circulated term to the common people is ‘Corona’. The word ‘novel’ means ‘new strain’ of the corona virus.
The symptoms of corona infection in the ‘corona positive patients’ are like those of common influenza and it was thought that it might be cured by using the drugs which are normally used to recover from the flues. This COVID-19 infects through mouth, nose or eyes and attack lungs filling it with water leaving oxygen disrupting the respiratory system. It causes respiratory problems and so the patients need ventilation to ease his or her breathing.
Picture showing how does corona virus affect the body, photo: from internet
The COVID-19 is a round shaped virus having single stranded RNA. It is surrounded by double layer membrane made of lipid. The peripheral layer has spike-like proteinaceous structure. The size of the virus is very tiny, although its size is bigger than some other corona viruses as were invented before, having a diameter of 120 nanometer, something like one millionth of a ball point pen’s tip. So, it actually cannot be prevented by wearing normal masks although we are putting those on. The scientists say that only N-95 respiratory mask is the most appropriate to prevent this corona virus.
Corona picture, Photo credit: timesofisrael.com
Doctors say that most of the infected patients recovers after infection, if treated with care. But it may become dangerous if it causes pneumonia. Medicines such as paracetamol, histamine etc. which are used in the cases of flues are generally prescribed by the doctors.
Pneumonia symptom, Photo from internet
It is advised by the doctors to the common people to avoid corona adopting some measures while leading a healthy family life such as; having normal rest and sleep, keeping body warm, drinking plenty of liquids and living in a ventilated room. In the case of throat sore and cough symptoms, the suggestion is taking a hot shower to have comport. In the serious case, the patients are advised to consult a doctor.
But, the reality is that the corona has created unrest, agony and panic among us, although it is reported that only two to four percent of the infected people are facing death while others recover. There are reports that among the victims, the old-aged people above sixty are in the most vulnerable list if they usually suffer from any of the serious diseases such as diabetics, heart and kidney. But lately, there are also reports that it also took lives of some younger ones. Finally, it is concluded that the immunity of the infected people is the main factor that affect surviving ability of the infected patients. However, there are contradictory results, for example, in Bangladesh, a patient aged over eighty survived, but a child died. Such examples are also available in some other countries as well.
It was earlier reported that this virus spreads most in places of cool weather and also happens in the areas of low humidity. Some reports are also there that the bright sunshine is not favorable for corona multiplication. Reports are also existed saying that high humidity is not at the choice list of corona although such climate is liked by other flue-causing viruses. Coupled with humid climate, the prevailing mild temperature may also accelerate its propagation. It was then concluded that in a community, its expansion depended on the prevailing climatic condition, peoples’ food habit, nature of living, cleanliness, compliance of the people with health regulations, wearing mask and keeping a safe distance.
Social distancing, photo from internet
From the doctors, some suggestions are given. Suggestions were also made from some other so called experienced persons which are usually treated as rumors. Among the doctor’s suggestions, hand washing at a regular interval; not touching mouth, nose and eyes with hand; cleaning utensils and other used materials with soap or detergents; wiping hands or touchable places with alcohol, beaching or hydrogen peroxide were the prime ones. These all are to be done at home. But when to go outside for any unavoidable reasons, citizens are advised to using mask, gloves, using tissue paper while coughing.
Corona prevention techniques
Citizens were also advised for not spitting and leaving spits or cough on roads or anywhere. Washing legs or shoes with detergents were the suggestions when back at home from market or office. When at out-doors, the people were told not to hug anybody or shake hands as a manner of greeting.
Soaking for half an hour time and then washing after coming back from outside is the suggestion of the doctors to get rid of corona germs from the dressed clothes, photo from internet
To prevent its spread, the measures those have been advised were keeping isolated from the infected people, keeping stress free, quarantining the infected ones or community using social distance, stay at home, keeping the throats warm through drinking hot-lemonated or vinegar-added water. The most important one which our doctors and government gave emphasis on was the assurance of ‘social distance’ keeping oneself away at least one meter.
Social distancing while talking, photo from internet
Well, let me say that we had some words in our life which were almost legendary. One example I could cite of now a days such as ‘Narail Express’ and; nobody in Bangladesh will disagree that he or she does not have idea about this word. Our former cricket captain ‘Mashrafi Bin Mortaza’ lives in ‘Narail’ district of Bangladesh. In the world cricket era, like many others, he has been famous showing the remarkable bowling pace. Our speediest train is called ‘Express train’ in our country. For this expertise, he has been popularly named ‘Narail Express’. In our boyhood, we used to learn some new worlds as well, such as Nylon, polyester etc. We knew these new words because we would be very pleased if we had a new dress made of these fabrics, although these clothes are no longer in use in the current days. It would be worthy saying that on the eve of COVID-19 in Bangladesh, Mashrafi Bin Mortaza have been playing a substantial role in serving corona affected people along with giving foods to the poors.
Mashrafi Bin Mortaza, the former Captain of Bangladesh Cricket Team, has gained nick name 'Narail Express' for fantastic bowling pace. His home district's name is 'Narail'. Mashrafe has been working immensely for the corona infected persons in his district.
When the ‘corona’ was on its reign worldwide in full swing (still it is), the government of the corona-victim countries took necessary managements to fight it with. Social and mass media have been circulating updated status and suggesting its readers/viewers about how to cope it with. These media have been doing it inviting and consulting to the scholars, physicians and researchers related to it. The politicians are having roles to protect their people. The social activists are busy to prevent its spread and serving the society and corona suspects. Mass media and government servants have been working to limit corona’s spread.
A government officer named 'Khaleda' has been awarded the title 'Janatar Ma' meaning 'People's Mother' by the people as the recognition of her service which she extended to the people where she works in during these critical days of corona.
People have been already familiar with some terminologies such as quarantine, isolation, stay at home, hand washing, hand rinsing, sanitizer, social distance, mask, gloves, PPE, corona testing kits, ventilators, N-95 respiratory mask, PCR machine (polymerase chain reaction) (RT-PCR) etc. Those were not known to them before.
Advertising for mask and face shield, photo from internet
Some of these terminologies have been very familiar to and being followed by the citizens due to mass campaigning especially by some of the living legends. One picture of India has been viral in the social media that the Chief Minister of the West Bengal was teaching people how to maintain the ‘social distance’ while shopping.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal of India is showing her citizens how to maintain 'Social distance' while shopping in the markets
Doctors advised to impose quarantine to any suspect/victim either at his/her own place (home quarantine), or in institutions (Institutional quarantine) under the disposal of the government. In any location where such suspects were traced, the local administration declared that house or locality under ‘quarantined’ or ‘locked downed’. The terminologies such as locked down, quarantine, social distance, pandemic, isolation etc. have been familiar to the common people although these terminologies were seldom heard in the past.
Bangladeshi returnees from Wuhan of China were quarantined at the Airport. Photo credit: Daily Star
Bashundhara Convention Center, has been converted as an Isolation Camp for the corona infected people
Roads/areas have been being lock downed in Bangladesh wherein corona patients are detected
In some places, the suspect persons spontaneously went on ‘self-quarantine’ hanging out a red flag in front of his house with a notice advising people not to enter that home. In West Bengal of India, some persons underwent self-quarantine on the branches of a tree (quarantine on tree) and that news has also been viral in the social media.
Peoples were spontaneously confirming lock down in the areas wherein corona infections were traced out
Red flag was hoisted to mark the house in which corona patients were quarantined
Isolation kisses during corona
But one thing I felt that, most of the sick persons were aware of being quarantined and after having been suffering from doubtful flue or flue-like symptoms or like that, they communicated or tried to have contact on hotline mobile numbers to the IEDCR (Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research) of Bangladesh so that they could reach IEDCR’s help for advice.
IEDCR (Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research) of Bangladesh has been very familiar to the Bangladeshi citizens on the eve of corona
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