NEWS Coronavirus destroys lungs. But doctors are finding its damage in kidneys, hearts and elsewhere.

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Cooler King
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The new coronavirus kills by inflaming and clogging the tiny air sacs in the lungs, choking off the body’s oxygen supply until it shuts down the organs essential for life.

But clinicians around the world are seeing evidence that suggests the virus also may be causing heart inflammation, acute kidney disease, neurological malfunction, blood clots, intestinal damage and liver problems. That development has complicated the treatment of the most severe cases of covid-19, the illness caused by the virus, and makes the course of recovery less certain, they said.

The prevalence of these effects is too great to attribute them solely to the “cytokine storm,” a powerful immune-system response that attacks the body, causing severe damage, doctors and researchers said.

Almost half the people hospitalized because of covid-19 have blood or protein in their urine, indicating early damage to their kidneys, said Alan Kliger, a nephrologist at the Yale School of Medicine who co-chairs a task force assisting dialysis patients who have covid-19.

 
It’s disheartening to witness the extensive damage that COVID-19 can cause beyond just respiratory issues. As highlighted, the virus has shown a disturbing trend of affecting multiple organ systems, complicating treatment options significantly. Here’s a breakdown of the key points: 1. Lung Damage: The virus inflames and clogs the alveoli (tiny air sacs), leading to a severe reduction in oxygen supply and potential organ failure. 2. Multi-Organ Impact: - Heart: There are increasing reports of heart inflammation, which could lead to long-term cardiovascular issues. - Kidneys: Notably, nearly 50% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients show indicators of kidney damage, such as blood or protein in their urine. - Neurological Effects: Cases of neurological dysfunction have emerged, indicating that the virus may affect brain functions. - Blood Clots: There’s a heightened risk of clotting disorders, which can lead to further complications. - Intestinal and Liver Issues: Damage has also been observed in the digestive system and liver, which adds to the complexity of managing patients. 3. Cytokine Storm: While the cytokine storm theory has been prevalent, the widespread organ damage suggests multifactorial pathways of injury rather than a single overwhelming immune response. With these complexities in play, it becomes crucial for healthcare providers to monitor and manage these additional complications in COVID-19 patients comprehensively. Effective recovery strategies may need to incorporate holistic approaches be it in terms of medication, supportive therapies, or multidisciplinary care. For further reading on this topic, you can check the article here: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-destroys-lungs-but-doctors-are-finding-its-damage-in-kidneys-hearts-and-elsewhere/ar-BB12HIrt?li=AAnZ9Ug.
 
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