EFFECTIVENESS OF PLASMA THERAPY IN COVID19 TREATMENT

The global pandemic COVID-19 has been on a rapid rise ever since we detected the first case in China. Millions of people got affected globally, and it has turned out to be an enormous threat to human life. 

While the efforts remain on to treat the disease or develop a vaccine, we have found the mortality rate to be increasing. 

After a few failed attempts to treat some patients affected with novel coronavirus, the treatment of the disease by convalescent plasma transfusion has given a ray of hope for the patients who show no signs of improvement.

Initially, the provision made to increase the number of Coronavirus testing labs for detecting the disease. When enough COVID 19 lab employed with the job of COVID 19 Test, the trials for various vaccines and medicines were started. 

Fortunately, the transfusion of convalescent plasma showed successful results. They observed that a single dose of plasma had the potential to maintain the antibodies. 

This leads to the disappearance of the infection within a week. Radiological investigations revealed that the lesions in the lung too subsided within 7 days.

What is convalescent plasma therapy?

The fundamental aim of the therapy is to utilize the immune power attained by a recovered individual to treat the patients found positive with the novel coronavirus. The therapy got approved after a patient successfully treated and recovered through the CP transfusion. 

When a novel coronavirus infects our body, the antibodies produced by our immune system which detects the invading virus.

White blood cells (WBCs) act as the first line of defense to help our body get rid of the pathogen. Under plasma therapy, they harvest the antibodies from a patient that has recovered from the infection and introduced into the body of an affected person. This allows the immune system of the body to fight and eliminate the virus.

How is the patient treated?

After the COVID Test when the patient found positive, he/she is first given the basic medication. When a person has successfully recovered from COVID-19, then his blood serum collected. 

This helps the infected individual to gain passive immunization. They test the donor of the convalescent serum before the transfusion. The reports of the donor must negative when tested for SARS CoV 2 Test.

Effectiveness of the therapy

Over time, they have found it that there are no effective antivirals against any unknown disease that occurs. To overcome this, they have introduced convalescent plasma therapy. 

The therapy has shown improvement in individuals treated with this and has been proved to be the most effective way of treating a disease. 

The antibody serum is in the patient's body for around four days. The effectiveness of plasma therapy becomes visible in these four days and significantly improves the health of the person.

The Bottom Line

Convalescent plasma therapy has brought about a fresh alternative to conventional treatment methods. Eventually, it has been effective enough in giving another life to the individual and has broadened the scope of medicinal treatments in human life existence. 

HISTORY OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

A coronavirus is a group of vicious viruses that cause disease and if not get treated properly, lead to death.

In humans, it causes infection in the respiratory tract which can be mild like cough and the common cold to severe like shortness of breath the same as SARS and presently COVID-19 or SARS CoV 2.


The Evolution of Coronavirus

Before knowing the history of the virus, it is important to know the evolution. This part describes how this virus evolved all through these years.

The ancestor of the recent coronavirus is believed to have evolved near around 8000 BC. However, some models try to establish a point that these evolved as long as 55 million years ago.

The same model correlates it with the existence of the bats and considers that both of them have evolved together.

There has been a categorization of the coronaviruses in the form of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta coronavirus.

The alpha coronavirus is believed to have evolved around 2400 BCE, beta coronavirus around 3300 BCE and gamma coronavirus at around 2800 BCE whereas for delta it is estimated to have evolved around 3000 BCE.

Experts believe that warm-blooded animals, especially bats and birds are the most suitable hosts for the coronaviruses. While alpha and beta coronaviruses can be related to bats; the other two are associated with the birds.

But, the human coronavirus is believed to have diverged in the 1890s. Experts also cite that the most recent ancestor of human coronaviruses dates back to the 1950s.

The study of evolution also states that bat coronavirus and human coronavirus shared the most recent ancestor not earlier than 800 years ago. The SARS coronavirus is expected to have evolved around 1986.


History Of Coronavirus - 

The very first time this virus found its name described was in the year 1931. However, the first discovery was made in the late 1960s; to be specific in 1965. It was named HCoV-229E and was isolated from human beings.

The viruses were found from human embryonic tracheal organ cultures of an adult who was suffering from cold and respiratory tract infection.

However, the next serious case was highlighted in the year 2002 with the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

It was named as SARS-CoV. Before this outbreak, there was another one apart from HCoV-229E. It was HCoV-OC43.

After the identification of SARS-CoV, two more coronaviruses were discovered. Later on, these were grouped into three categories which are as follow—

• Group I- comprised of HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229E

• Group II- has HCoV-HKU1 & HCoVOC43

• Group III- has yet to make any entry

The Study of First Detected Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are spherical in shape and have bulbous surface projections. The size of these viruses remains approximately 120 nm (diametrical length).

The detailed morphology of the virus is as follows—

It has a lipid bilayer that forms the envelope of the virus structure onto which envelope, M-protein, RNA and N protein, E protein is anchored.

The member encapsulates the nucleocapsid which is the result of multiple copies of the N (nucleocapsid) protein.


The Etymology Of The Coronavirus


The name is given to the virus based on the shape and structure it has. When viewed through an electron microscope, the virus shows bulbous surface projections resembling a solar corona or crown.

The word is taken from the Latin word Corona that means 'crown'. Though the root of this Latin version is believed to be from the Greek word- korṓnē.


Relation Between Coronavirus And Human Beings

The impact of coronavirus on human beings differs as per the risk factor. Though some are considered to have a mild impact, there are few in the list that is notorious and is considered to be pandemic.

There are seven strains of human coronavirus known. The following are known to cause very slight symptoms of a common cold—

• Human coronavirus NL63

• Human coronavirus 229E

• Human coronavirus HKU1

• Human coronavirus OC43

And the following variants are considered to cause havoc and death of millions of people as soon as the

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus or SARS-CoV and was first reported in 2003

The Middle-East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus or MERS-CoV first recognized in 2012 in 21 countries of the Middle East world

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus or SARS-CoV 2 or COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV is believed to have spread from Wuhan, China, and has turned to be pandemic

In India, the Coronavirus pandemic is on the rise. Along with the major players, Metropolis Healthcare Labs is one of the prominent Pathology Labs in India that has received authorization for the COVID-19 Testing from ICMR. 

It is actively providing Coronavirus Testing in Delhi, NCR, Chennai Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad. 

HOW DO I KEEP MYSELF SAFE FROM COVID-19?

With COVID-19 or novel Coronavirus 2019 turning out to be a global tragedy claiming the lives of over Seventy thousand people and leaving behind nearly one million people ailing.

It is necessary to keep oneself clean and free from any possible exposure to cease the virus from spreading. 

With the global economy coming to a complete standstill, the entire situation can be considered a humanitarian crisis.


When Infection Turns Contagious?


COVID-19 has turned pandemic, crippling not only the health and life but also the economy. 

Amidst all these, studies and tests are being conducted by the researchers in order to study the nature of the virus and when does the virus turns fatal?

What is the stage when a person contaminated is contagious and many more? The virus was first detected in the year 2019, it has created rampant havoc to over 190 countries across the world.

According to healthcare professionals and researchers, before keeping oneself safe, it is necessary to know its various stages.

Apart from this, the first and foremost thing that needs to be considered is the effect that should not be undermined. 

A person infected comes to know only after a week or so because the incubation period of the virus varies between 2-14 days.

The Following Are The Different Stages Of COVID-19 Spread -

STAGE 1:

It is the phase of importing the virus from the affected countries. This situation has been because of the people visiting the affected country. 

In the case of India, almost all the cases reported have been brought in by those people who had a travel history.

This is why the spread has been maximum in areas like Mumbai and Pune where a large number of people either work or land to reach other destination places (in cases of tourists).

In this stage, there is no history of local origin and also this COVID-SARS does not spread locally.


STAGE 2:

This is the stage when local transmission takes place. At this point, the source point is known and can be detected.

According to the professionals, at this stage, people are tested positive and their history somewhere hovers around coming in close contact with people who have either travelled abroad or are infected.

At this stage, only a few people are affected and can be easily controlled by taking effective measures. Concerned officials conduct tracing and put the affected one in quarantine.


STAGE 3:

It is one of the most crucial and challenging stages. At this stage, tracing becomes almost impossible because it does not merely remain about the source point.

People who do not have any travel history are also tested positive. The devastation happens in a cluster.


STAGE 4:

It is the most dreadful stage where the disease takes the form of a pandemic. People in clusters are infected and thus, control becomes almost difficult.


India And Testing For COVID-19 To Fight The Pandemic

The only way to get to the root of the spread is to conduct rigorous testing by properly analyzing the affected person’s history. At this time of crisis, competing and boasting on having the least fatalities amidst other infected countries is not good.

However, the government (state and center) is doing all possible things to fight COVID-19 or SARS CoV 2. Steps are being taken at war footing jobs to tackle the pandemic.

Approximately 19 tests per 1 million people or 26,798 tests (as of 27th March 2020) have been conducted at different government designated tests and rehabilitation centers.


How To Battle This COVID-19 Pandemic?

For developing countries like India, where not only ignorance and illiteracy are the problem but also population explosion has come to be the biggest threat in such a crisis, it is the individual who can prevent the spread.

With numbers of confirmed cases touching 1300 (as of 30th March 2020), coronavirus has wrecked almost every state. 

With Maharashtra topping the chart, Mumbai and Pune have reported the greatest number of cases and the healthcare workers are at work to cater to the cases.

Coronavirus Testing is being conducted by various private labs such as Metropolis Healthcare. If detected positive the person is put in isolation.


How To Tackle The Outbreak?

Apart from the government taking the immediate step to prevent the spread by declaring an immediate lockdown for 21 days. 

Citizens of India need to follow certain measures to keep not only himself/herself but also the community and country safe. These are—

• Frequently washing your hands with soap or hand wash and if not possible at least need to use sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If required, sanitize your hands first.
• Cover your mouth in case of coughing and sneezing as effectively as possible
• Make sure that you are not in crowded places or in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with fever or cold
• Keep yourself isolated or quarantined in order to evade exposure to any possibility of infection
• Seek immediate medical care in case you find difficulty in breathing or feel feverish or develop a cough.

• If you find the above symptoms with you or your family member then definitely contact for Coronavirus Testing Centre Near Me with a doctor's prescription.

• The most important thing is not to trust rumors and seek information from trusted government sources.

According to the experts, it is necessary for the people to cooperate with the government and local administration to avoid the spread. 

As a responsible citizen of the country, it is expected to obey the instructions strictly. ICMR has authorized prominent pathology labs in India for Coronavirus Test.

This would benefit not only an individual but also the community and country. It will help fight this pandemic effectively and efficiently.

Metropolis Healthcare is actively providing COVID 19 Test in Delhi, NCR, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad.

One can contact Metropolis Healthcare to book Corona Test at Home and get tested accurately.