Lung Diseases & Pulmonology

Effect of COVID-19 on Lungs

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease which causes a range of breathing problems, from mild to critical. Older adults and people who have other health conditions like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes may have more serious symptoms when compared to others. Coronavirus can infect the upper or lower part of the respiratory tract and travels down the airways making the lining become irritated and inflamed. In some cases, the infection can reach all the way down into the alveoli. Respiratory inflammation can be observed on a chest X-ray or CT scan. Currently, convalescent plasma from a recovered patient is given by transfusion to a patient who is suffering from COVID-19. The donor antibodies may help the patient fight the illness, possibly shortening the reducing the severity of the disease.