Pneumonia and COVID-19

Pneumonia is an infection which may affect either one or both the lungs in the human body. It can be caused due to bacteria, viruses or fungi. It is a serious infection in which the air sacs get filled either with pus or with other liquid.

Pneumonia is one of the serious complications of the COVID-19 infection. It can either affect one lobe or different sections of the lungs. (Our lungs have five lobes or sections: three on the right lung and two on the left.)

The symptoms of novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia are:

• Fever
• Fatigue 
• Dry cough
• Headache
• Sharp or stabbing chest pain 
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Weakness

The less common symptoms of COVID-19 related pneumonia are:

• Runny nose (rhinorrhea)
• Sore throat
• Diarrhoea

The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, can enter the body through the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes and mouth.

When this happens, the body tries to expel the virus. This happens through a natural process in which tiny hair-like projection in the nose and windpipe called cilia try to push the virus out - through a sneeze or a cough. Mucous produced by the membranes also tries to destroy the virus by consuming it.

If - despite these efforts - the virus enters the lungs, the body's immune system steps things up. As the body fights the viral infection, though, it can lead to inflammation in the tiny air sacs in the lungs called the alveoli.

Now, as a result of the inflammation, the alveoli fill up with fluid - this is what causes the pneumonia-like symptoms and hypoxemia (lack of adequate oxygen in the blood) in COVID-19.

COVID-19 patients can - if they become severely ill - develop one of two different types of pneumonia:

• Lobar pneumonia: Affects the lobes of the lungs.
• Bronchopneumonia: Affects the airways of bronchi of the lungs.

While there is no definitive research on this yet, we know that people over 60 years of age and those with the following comorbidities (underlying diseases) are more likely to develop severe symptoms of COVID-19 (like pneumonia) if they contract the infection:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Lung disease
• Cancer

Read more: COVID-19 prevention tips for older people and those living with chronic illnesses

Pneumonia associated with COVID-19 can be diagnosed with the help of the following tests:

• X-rays: X-rays are the first line of imaging done to determine pneumonia in a person. Chest X-rays would be clear in mild cases but will show airspace opacities in case of severe disease. 
• CT scan: Chest CT scan would show the symptoms of developing or developed pneumonia.
• Ultrasound: Ultrasound of the lungs may also be done to find out the symptoms of COVID-19 related pneumonia.
• Bronchoscopy: In some critical cases, doctors may also inspect the lungs with the help of a flexible tool called a bronchoscope.

The treatment of pneumonia is done with a multi-directional approach, which involves the following:

• Antiviral medications for the treatment of the underlying viral disease. Since a focused treatment for COVID-19 isn't available yet, various other drugs are being tried and tested to kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• Fluid intake is increased by injecting IV fluids.
• Oxygen therapy to relieve the issue of breathlessness. Some of the patients may also require ventilator support for breathing.
• Antipyretics are given to relieve the fever.
• Bronchodilators and cough-suppressants to treat the cough.

Read more: 4 inventive solutions to treat symptoms of COVID-19