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Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition

Coronavirus infections

by Patricia Stanfill Edens, , R.N., Ph.D., FACHE

Category: Diseases and conditions

Anatomy or system affected: Gastrointestinal system, lungs, respiratory system

Also known as: Common cold, SARS, viral bronchitis, viral pneumonia

Definition

Exposure to the coronavirus results in a variety of infections, including approximately one-third of all cases of the common cold. The virus also may be responsible for viral bronchitis, pneumonia, and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), especially in persons with weakened immune systems. The coronavirus is the largest positive-strand ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus; it is part of the Coronaviridae family.

Causes

Coronavirus is the underlying cause of a variety of illnesses that affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal system, and, in rare cases, the neurological system. Infections with the virus are often seasonal in nature, with more occurring in winter. Contact with contaminated droplets from sneezing and coughing and direct contact by touching contaminated objects, such as surfaces and tissues, may transmit the virus from person to person.

The virus may live six to nine hours, and the live virus has been found in the stool of people diagnosed with SARS. It is highly contagious, and reinfection may occur. The virus can affect humans, cattle, pigs, rodents, cats, dogs, and birds, but there is no evidence of animal and bird variations infecting humans.

Coronaviruses with classic halo-like appearance. Image courtesy of the CDC. Photo by Dr. Fred Murphy via Wikimedia Commons.

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Risk Factors

Risk factors for coronavirus infection are exposure to an infected person through kissing and sharing living spaces and contact with droplets or contaminated surfaces containing the virus. The severity of the infection increases if a person is immunocompromised (less able to fight infections because of a weakened immune system).

Symptoms

Coronavirus infection that leads to the common cold comes with symptoms of fatigue, a scratchythroat, sneezing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose. Fever rarely occurs with a cold, except in children. A more serious infection, such as pneumonia or SARS, may be occurring if symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, an acute cough, a headache, dizziness, or diarrhea.

Screening and Diagnosis

A physical examination including listening to lung sounds, reviewing symptoms, chest X rays, and blood work may be used to determine if a person has a cold or has developed pneumonia or SARS. Blood work may include blood chemistries and a complete blood count to determine if white blood cell counts, lymphocytes, and platelets are low. Specific tests for SARS may be ordered too.

Treatment and Therapy

In the absence of fever, symptoms may be treated with over-the-counter medications, plenty of fluids, and rest. If symptoms worsen or if a fever develops, one should seek medical care. Antibiotics, antiviral medications, and high doses of steroids to decrease lung inflammation may be prescribed. In severe cases, the patient may need oxygen, breathing support with a respirator, and hospitalization.

Prevention and Outcomes

The best prevention against coronavirus infection is to limit contact with infected persons. Hand hygiene, including handwashing or cleaning hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, is an important part of prevention. Infected persons should cough or sneeze into tissue or into the arm to minimize droplets and airborne particles. Because coronavirus is contagious, one should not share food and drink, utensils, or personal supplies. Household areas, including door knobs, counter tops, and other surfaces, should be cleaned with disinfectant.

Further Reading

1 

Eccles, Ronald, and Olaf Weber, eds. Common Cold. Boston: Birkhäuser, 2009.

2 

Peiris, M., et al., eds. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell, 2005.

3 

Wagner, Edward K., and Martinez J. Hewlett. Basic Virology. 3d ed. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Science, 2008.

Web Sites of Interest

American Lung Association

http://www.lungusa.org

American Public Health Association

http://www.apha.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov

Clean Hands Coalition

http://www.cleanhandscoalition.org

See also: Airborne illness and disease; Bronchitis; Children and infectious disease; Contagious diseases; Coronaviridae; Pneumonia; Public health; Respiratory route of transmission; Respiratory syncytial virus infections; SARS; Schools and infectious disease; Sinusitis; Viral infections; Viral upper respiratory infections.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Edens, Patricia Stanfill. "Coronavirus Infections." Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition, edited by H. Bradford Hawley, Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=Infect2e_0142.
APA 7th
Edens, P. S. (2020). Coronavirus infections. In H. B. Hawley (Ed.), Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Edens, Patricia Stanfill. "Coronavirus Infections." Edited by H. Bradford Hawley. Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions, 2nd Edition. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2020. Accessed September 16, 2025. online.salempress.com.