Pulmonology & Respiratory Medicine

COVID-19 and Respiratory System

Upon entering the body, the coronavirus comes into contact with the mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyes. When a virus infects a healthy cell, it exploits that cell to produce new virus components. As it grows, neighboring cells become infected with the fresh viruses. Imagine an upside-down tree for the respiratory tract. A trachea, or windpipe, is the trunk. It divides into progressively smaller branches within the lungs. Alveoli are microscopic air sacs found at the end of each department. This is where carbon dioxide exits the blood and oxygen enters.

The new coronavirus can infect the upper or lower a part of the breathing tract. It travels down in airways. The lining can become irritated and inflamed. In some cases, the contamination can reach the entire manner down into alveoli. COVID-19 is a brand new condition, and scientists are learning greater each day about what it can do on lungs. They agree with that the effects on the frame are similar to the ones of two other coronavirus diseases, excessive acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East breathing syndrome (MERS).