Article

2020-01-27 Science & Technology

[American Thinker] - I am not suggesting that we not remain alert, nor am I suggesting that we cast caution to the winds, but this present coronavirus will probably be nowhere near as deadly as many Chicken Littles are predicting.

Why?

Because, quite often, it is not the virus itself, but the secondary infections that are so deadly.

The majority of deaths during the influenza pandemic of 1918‐1919 were not caused by the influenza virus acting alone, report researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. Instead, most victims succumbed to bacterial pneumonia following influenza virus infection. The pneumonia was caused when bacteria that normally inhabit the nose and throat invaded the lungs along a pathway created when the virus destroyed the cells that line the bronchial tubes and lungs.
Did you catch that? It was bacteria, piggybacking on top of viral damage, that caused the fatalities.

However, unlike 1918, today, medicine has an arsenal of antibiotics available to fight such bacteria ‐ antibiotics that were not available in 1918. And yes, some bacteria have developed resistance, but not all. In plain terms, medicine has a better fighting chance.

In many cases, a course of antibiotics and acetaminophen (Tylenol) to control the fever might prove sufficient. However, there will be worse cases.

The 1918 flu also caused a cytokine storm, where the body's immune system over-reacted.

[T]he 1918 strain seems to trigger a particularly intense response from the immune system, including a 'cytokine storm' ‐ the rapid release of immune cells and inflammatory molecules. Although a robust immune response should help us fight infection, an over-reaction of this kind can overload the body, leading to severe inflammation and a build-up of fluid in the lungs that could increase the chance of secondary infections.
Can you say...steroids? Prednisolone was discovered in the 1950s. Variations such as prednisone, Solu-Medrol, etc. are quite common today.

Such steroids are quite powerful and work fast. They can bring down inflammation at miraculous speeds. Anyone who has had shock, an auto-immune disease, a severe arthritis flare-up, or severe asthma knows that an injection of steroids (Solu-Medrol) can often clear up the situation in a matter of minutes. Anyone who has had a transplant knows how steroids can prevent the body from rejecting a new organ.

[Solu-Medrol] is usually given by slow injection into a vein or directly into a muscle, as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

Today, doctors might give a patient dosages of steroids during the worst of the flu to control inflammation, swollen bronchial tubes, etc. After the initial intravenous delivery of steroids, the doctors will slowly reduce the patient down to oral prednisone, and then ideally off the steroids for good.

However, the astute will caution that steroids have side-effects.
Which we know how to deal with

As I understand it, steroids like prednisone don’t cause problems unless used long term — irritability and increased appetite are certainly manageable in the short term... and my house always ends up cleaner thanks to the energy burst when I’m on a prednisone taper, which nobody around here complains about. Short term use sounds an awful lot less risky than letting the disease run its course.

...Between antibiotics and steroids, the fatalities that come with flu should drastically decrease. The fatalities that come with murder ‐ a wife who kills her husband in a fit of roid rage, after he asks why she put on so much weight ‐ might see a temporary spike.

The point is that whatever this coronavirus is, it will probably not be anywhere near as deadly as former plagues were. Hospitals in the West come stocked with antibiotics and steroids. While some of the newer antibiotics are in short supply, they might not even be needed, as older antibiotics may prove sufficient.

Do not panic, not matter how much the media hypes this.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-01-27 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11135 views ] Top

#1 Thank you for putting the source in square brackets at the top of the article, g(r)omgoru. Because you did, I was able to find the URL you forgot to paste into the source box. <3

Posted by trailing wife 2020-01-27 01:21|| 2020-01-27 01:21|| Front Page Top

#2 Did you catch that? It was bacteria, piggybacking on top of viral damage, that caused the fatalities.

I'm sure it was a great consolation to the people that died to know they died from complications and not the flu itself.

An interesting bit about the 1918 flu was that a great many of the deaths were in the 20-40 year old range, not just the usual very young and very old. This was a result of immune system overreaction, the cytokine storm article mentions.

Prediction: Lots of deaths in the developing world with high populations and fewer health care resources. It won't be a big deal in 1st World countries with better health care and sanitation.

Any time there is a problem, it is important to make a distinction between over-blown media hysteria and the actual problem. Y2K was a fine example. According to the media, it was the end of the civilization. In the real world, there was a lot of software and hardware that needed attention, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. It took time and money, but we did it. Apocalypse averted! Now go wash your hands.

Posted by SteveS 2020-01-27 01:58|| 2020-01-27 01:58|| Front Page Top

#3 Sorry, not at my best (modest as it might be) in the morning

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-01-27 02:29|| 2020-01-27 02:29|| Front Page Top

#4 Belt and suspenders, my dear. As long as it worked, it’s all good.

Posted by trailing wife 2020-01-27 03:00|| 2020-01-27 03:00|| Front Page Top

#5 😊

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-01-27 03:07|| 2020-01-27 03:07|| Front Page Top

#6 I believe patient confidentiality has allowed things to go on that people should be aware of. Many times I have been made aware of health issues not public knowledge. In the last two weeks hospital admissions of individuals 2 specifically with stomach flu causing bilateral paralysis of arms and legs. 40 year old men. 2 others admitted with similar problems. The first two shipped out to major hospitals due to inability to manage patients issues. I hope to be contacted by mother of one of the men for answers. She is a highly skilled Nurse frustrated by lack of results. Perhaps I will never know as this sort of thing is not likely to be published. Managed as in China.

Posted by Dale 2020-01-27 06:11|| 2020-01-27 06:11|| Front Page Top

#7 I recommend the documentary "Bigger Stronger Faster" for anyone looking for the straight dope on steroids.

Posted by Iblis 2020-01-27 10:50|| 2020-01-27 10:50|| Front Page Top

#8 The incubation period (reportedly up to two weeks) makes quarantining travel from Wuhan difficult, but not insurmountable

Posted by Frank G 2020-01-27 11:09|| 2020-01-27 11:09|| Front Page Top

#9 My wife is on steroids (prednisone 5 mg day) for long term maintenance of vasculitis..which can be deadly...she has not had any flare ups (inflammation) since April 2015..

Posted by crazyhorse 2020-01-27 22:40|| 2020-01-27 22:40|| Front Page Top

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