The killer in Covid-19 is our own immune system


By AGENCY

A Covid-19 patient on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at Vila Penteado General Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The cytokine storm set off by the disease results in the lungs shutting down, often causing death through respiratory failure. — Bloomberg

Paradoxically, Covid-19 mostly kills its victims through an overreaction of the immune system, whose function is precisely to fight off infections in our body.

In a new review article – explicitly targeted to non-specialists as well – in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, a team of experts from Zunyi Medical University in China review the epidemiology, disease pathway, symptoms, diagnosis and current treatment of severe Covid-19.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Health

Why rescue blankets have a silver and a gold side
'Engage your core!' – but how do you really do that?
Region-specific diets around China recommended to combat obesity
It’s tough becoming a dad – and they get little support too
A tired brain leads to bad decisions and bad behaviour
Diabetes: Empowering communities with peer support and social media
Lower your blood pressure by swapping just a few minutes of sitting for exercise
When uncontrolled diabetes causes you to go blind
New ways to combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Prenetics and David Beckham launch IM8 brand with two health and wellness supplements

Others Also Read