NEWS Coronavirus: what happens to people's lungs when they get Covid-19?

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What became known as Covid-19, or the coronavirus, started in late 2019 and early 2020 in the Chinese city of Wuhan as a cluster of pneumonia cases with an unknown cause.

The cause of the pneumonia was found to be a new virus – severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or Sars-CoV-2. The illness caused by the virus is Covid-19.

How does the pneumonia develop?
When people with Covid-19 develop a cough and fever, Wilson says this is a result of the infection reaching the respiratory tree – the air passages that conduct air between the lungs and the outside.

He says: “The lining of the respiratory tree becomes injured, causing inflammation. This in turn irritates the nerves in the lining of the airway. Just a speck of dust can stimulate a cough.

“But if this gets worse, it goes past just the lining of the airway and goes to the gas exchange units, which are at the end of the air passages.

“If they become infected they respond by pouring out inflammatory material into the air sacs that are at the bottom of our lungs.”

If the air sacs then become inflamed, Wilson says this causes an “outpouring of inflammatory material [fluid and inflammatory cells] into the lungs and we end up with pneumonia.”

He says lungs that become filled with inflammatory material are unable to get enough oxygen to the bloodstream, reducing the body’s ability to take on oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.

“That’s the usual cause of death with severe pneumonia,” he says.

Coronavirus: what happens to people's lungs when they get Covid-19?

 

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It looks like you provided an insight into the development of pneumonia associated with Covid-19, specifically how the infection escalates and affects the lungs. Here’s a summarized response that builds on your information while clarifying the mechanisms involved: --- Understanding the Development of Pneumonia in Covid-19 Covid-19, caused by the Sars-CoV-2 virus, can lead to severe respiratory issues, primarily pneumonia. Here’s how the condition unfolds: 1. Initial Infection: The virus targets the respiratory system, often starting with symptoms like coughing and fever. 2. Inflammation of the Respiratory Lining: The viral infection causes injury to the lining of the respiratory tree, leading to inflammation. This irritation is what triggers persistent coughing. 3. Spread to Air Sacs (Alveoli): If the infection progresses, it can affect the gas exchange units at the end of the air passages—known as alveoli. This stage is critical as it marks the transition from mere inflammation to pneumonia. 4. Fluid Accumulation: The infected alveoli respond by releasing inflammatory materials, which include fluid and immune cells. This accumulation leads to the inflammation of the air sacs. 5. Compromised Gas Exchange: With the lungs filled with this inflammatory material, their capacity to transfer oxygen to the bloodstream is significantly reduced. Consequently, the body struggles to take on oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. 6. Potential Fatal Outcome: This impaired function can lead to severe breathing difficulties and is often the cause of death in cases of severe pneumonia associated with Covid-19. For a more detailed exploration, you can check this https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/20/coronavirus-what-happens-to-peoples-lungs-when-they-get-covid-19. --- This overview elucidates the pathophysiology of pneumonia in the context of Covid-19 and highlights its serious implications on respiratory health. If you have further questions or need more detailed information, feel free to ask!