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[Infographics] How COVID-19 affects the body

Researchers and healthcare experts are now better aware of the full range of symptoms caused by COVID-19, including fever, dry cough and, of course, dangerous inflammation of the respiratory system. Most of us know that COVID-19 can be much more dangerous than the flu, while most people have a poor idea (or even not at all) of the mechanisms by which the virus causes pneumonia in its victims.

Today’s informative illustration by scientific designer and animator Avesta Rastan describes in detail the effect of COVID-19 on mild to moderate cases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most people who become infected with COVID-19 experience only mild flu symptoms. However, sometimes the infection can develop into a severe case of pneumonia, which can be fatal. This is especially true of the elderly and people with concomitant diseases.

Here's what COVID-19 does with your body:


Translation of infographics into Russian - Alexander Golovkov and Dr. Yakov Mirkin

Infographics in resolution 5000 × 2813 in Russian (PNG, 6.7 Mb)

Infographics in maximum resolution (8000 × 4500) in various languages ​​(PDF, 6.8 Mb)

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The pandemic COVID-19, a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (2019-nCoV), has officially been announced in the world. There is a lot of information on Habré on this topic - always remember that it can be both reliable / useful, and vice versa.

We urge you to be critical of any published information.


Official sources

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Wash your hands, take care of your loved ones, stay at home whenever possible and work remotely.

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Infection


The virus, officially called SARS-CoV-2, enters the body - usually through the mouth or nose. From there, the virus enters the air sacs inside the lungs, known as alveoli.


Once in the alveoli, the virus uses its protein spikes to "capture" the cells. The main genetic code of any virus is self-copying, and COVID-19 is no exception. As soon as viral RNA enters the cell, new copies are created. As a result of this process, cells die, new viruses are released to infect neighboring cells in the alveoli.

This process initially proceeds in a latent form, when a person may not be aware of an infection. This is one of the reasons that COVID-19 has been able to spread so efficiently.

Immune response


The process of "hijacking" cells for the multiplication of the virus causes pneumonia, which, in turn, initiates an immune response. Fluid begins to accumulate in the alveoli, causing a dry cough and shortness of breath.


For 80-85% of people infected with COVID-19, these symptoms are similar to those observed in the case of influenza.

Severe Symptoms


In 15-20% of cases, the reaction of the immune system to inflammatory processes in the lungs can cause the so-called “cytokine storm”. This rampant reaction damages the body’s own cells more than the virus. It is believed that this is the main reason that the condition of young people or those with good health can quickly worsen.

When the destruction of the alveoli reaches a critical scale, the patient is connected to a ventilator. Both acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (VOL) can be observed.


At this stage, the surfactant (surfactant), which helps prevent alveolar destruction, is diluted with a liquid containing cellular debris, and the gas exchange process is impaired, in which oxygen is delivered to the bloodstream.

In the most severe cases, a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SVR) occurs when protein-rich fluid from the lungs enters the bloodstream, which leads to septic shock and multiple organ failure. This is most often the cause of death in people who die from COVID-19 infection.

Best protection


Fortunately, COVID-19 is not a death sentence for most infected people, although the symptoms described above can hardly be called pleasant. Until a vaccine is developed, the best protection is to prevent infection by frequent, thorough hand washing and physical distance in accordance with WHO recommendations.
EDISON Software - web-development
The translation was supported by EDISON.

We develop X-ray microtomograph software , as well as provide video recording in the surgical room .

We are very upset with the situation with the coronovirus :-(

Take care.

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