At the end of 2019, cases of viral pneumonia began to be reported in Wuhan, China, caused by a new Coronavirus, identified as SARS-CoV-2, a single-stranded positive RNA virus, whose main determinant of pathogenicity is the glycoprotein spike, which is related with the SARSr-CoV RaTG13 strain in a 97%, virus isolated from the chinese horseshoe bats, establishing its phylogenetic origin. Glycoprotein spike, allows entry to host cells through ECA2 receptors present in tissues such as lungs, kidneys, heart, vascular endothelium and bowels, that triggers the pro-inflammatory response important in the development of pathology. This virus causes COVID-19 disease, which is characterized by being clinically complex, where the symptoms presented are fever, cough, myalgia or fatigue, respiratory distress, expectoration, headache, hemoptysis, diarrhea, dysgeusia or ageusia, and hyposmia or anosmia. The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 varies from a state similar to the common cold (80%), including viral pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome or even death (mortality rate 2 – 4%), and there may also be asymptomatic patients. It has been seen that most of those who enter the ICU present factors such as comorbidities and an age ≥ 60 years. The treatment is oriented to the control of symptoms, requiring in some cases ventilatory assistance which has contributed to the collapse of the main world health systems due to the high contagion capacity of the virus. Specific therapies are still under study, possible results were found with the chloroquine implementation but that require confirmation through clinical studies.

Author Name: Pulgar A, Rocafull C

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Keywords: Coronavirus; COVID-19; novel coronavirus; pneumonia; treatment; etiopathogenesis.

ISSN: 2542-3428

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