Written By: Longjam Dineshwori | Updated : December 28, 2020 4:41 PM IST
Pneumonia is a potential complication of COVID-19 infection. It may develop when the infection progresses to your lungs.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has been reportedly admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi following a chest infection due to COVID-19. Rawat developed pneumonia while he was in home isolation in Dehradun after he tested positive for COVID-19 on December 18. He was admitted to Delhi after his condition worsened, news agency IANS reported quoting sources.
A team of doctors led by the AIIMS director is checking on Rawat's health at the hospital's trauma centre.
Earlier on Sunday, Rawat complained of fever and was admitted to a hospital in Dehradun. The doctors there revealed that Rawat has developed an infection in the chest. Later, on Monday, the CM was flown to Delhi after consulting doctors at the AIIMS.
Pneumonia is a potential complication of COVID-19 infection. It is caused due to inflammation in the air sacs, known as alveoli, present inside the lungs. This can lead to fluid buildup inside the cavity and results in conditions like fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, chest pain, etc.
When respiratory droplets containing the SARS-CoV-2 enter your upper respiratory tract and the virus multiplies, the infection can progress to your lungs. The infection can damage the alveoli and surrounding tissues, leading to inflammation and buildup of fluid and dead cells in your lungs.
In some cases, COVID pneumonia can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a progressive type of respiratory failure that occurs when the air sacs in the lungs fill up with fluid. People with ARDS may need mechanical ventilation to breathe.
Doctors suggest that patients who are isolating at home should watch out for the following signs:
Researchers have suggested that computed tomography (CT) can be used as an important complement for the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia.
Severe COVID-19 and associated complications like pneumonia can affect any person. However, some people are more vulnerable to the conditions than others. These include those who have a history of cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, asthma or breathing problems, and adults over the age of 55.
