September 25, 2023 — As we continue to live COVID-19patients and doctors will learn more about why infections can range from asymptomatic to very serious. Many researchers and doctors believe that inflammation is the cause severe COVID. This is because the virus has a “cytokine storm” which can negatively affect the organs in a patient’s body, including the heart and lungs.
New research from Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin, however, points to bacterial pneumonia as the cause of many severe COVID deaths. Of the deceased COVID patients examined, it turned out that no inflammation had occurred at all. Instead, using machine learning to analyze data, the researchers found that half of critically ill COVID patients requiring a ventilator had bacterial pneumonia as a secondary infection. They found no evidence of a cytokine storm in these patients; instead of dying of organ damage or failure due to COVID, they died of pneumonia.
“Critically ill patients who recovered from pneumonia were more likely to survive,” he said Benjamin D. Singer, MDsenior author of the study, professor of pulmonary medicine, and pulmonologist and critical care physician at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
However, other researchers do not debunk the idea of cytokine storms in COVID. Cytokines are chemicals released when a person’s immune system overreacts to an infection. Too many cytokines are toxic and can cause organ failure. COVID-19 is thought to release cytokines inflammation which can circulate through the body and cause death.
A new study For example, from CSIR-Institute of Mbiotic Technology in Chandigarh, India, and MM Engineering College in Ambala, India, found that controlling this inflammatory factor is essential to treat COVID. Italian researchers further discover that hyperinflammation plays a clear role in severe disease in COVID patients.
Additional new research shows that specific bacteria can have negative consequences for COVID patients. a study of New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine found that bacteria from the intestines can enter the blood of patients with severe COVID. “Bacteria circulating in the blood may accelerate complications in these COVID patients,” says study co-author Jonas Schluter, PhD from the Institute for Systems Genetics and assistant professor of microbiology at NYU Grossman in New York City.
Could these findings impact any patient diagnosed with COVID-19 who may be at high risk for complications? Potential, yes. A very important aspect of the Northwestern study is that it highlights the importance of screening susceptible COVID patients for pneumonia as soon as possible. The good news: Patients who test positive can immediately talk to their doctor about their risk factors and get the treatment they need to prevent serious illness.
Who is at risk for severe COVID?
The CDC reports that anyone who is not vaccinated is at risk for severe COVID. Other factors include:
- Being over 50 years old, especially over 65 years old
- Having underlying medical conditions, including asthma and other respiratory conditions, diabetes, heart disease, HIV, kidney disease, liver disease, a suppressed immune system, and obesity.
- Be pregnant
- Being physically inactive
- Being a smoker
What COVID Symptoms Are Emergency Alerts?
According to the CDCSymptoms of COVID that can range from mild to severe include:
- Fever
- Chills
- A cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- muscle strain
- Pain in the body
- Headache
- Loss of taste
- Loss of smell
- A sore throat
- Accumulation
- Running nose
- Nausea
- Vomit
- Diarrhea
The following symptoms indicate a potentially more serious or critical course of COVID-19:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain pain
- Pressure on the chest
- Confusion
- Problems waking up
- Problems staying awake
- Pale, gray or blue colored skin, lips or nail beds
Anyone experiencing one or more of these symptoms should immediately call 911 and explain that this is a confirmed or possible case of COVID.
How is severe COVID treated?
If a patient tests positive and has risk factors, their doctor may prescribe one of three medications to prevent the disease from progressing: molnupiravir, Paxlovidor remdesivir. If a patient is admitted to hospital, additional drug treatment can be given in addition to blood plasma therapy that reduces inflammation.
Patients will also be treated for any other infections they have. That’s why it’s important to immediately notify healthcare providers of any new symptoms.
What can be done to prevent severe COVID-19?
First get vaccinated and given a boost. “It’s the best way to prevent the risk of serious illness,” Singer said. “It is rare for a fully vaccinated COVID patient to be seriously ill in intensive care.”
If a patient tests positive and has respiratory symptoms that worsen, they should ask their doctor for a pneumonia screening. Antibiotics are often necessary to treat a co-infection, and Schluter had some unexpected but important advice: stop eating junk food immediately. “You don’t want to eat rubbish, because antibiotics and sweets don’t go together,” he warns. “Sugar from your diet, combined with antibiotics, can worsen damage to the organs in your body. COVID can start a forest fire in your body. Not consuming excess sugar can extinguish the flame.”
The most important things to do: Take all prescribed medications, isolate for at least 5 days, wear a high quality N95 or KN5 mask around others and don’t stress. Taking these steps means a patient is doing everything right and possible to have the least severe consequences of COVID-19.