SARS COV-2 The virus that causes COVID-19 has taken the whole world by surprise and has remained unabated in several parts of the world and in any important continents piling up human mortality and morbidity figures all along. The government and health authorities have not found a way to counter its wildfire like spread effectively. Some treatments have only been partially effective; others have failed. Now, the vaccines are the only hope being looked forward to. Their efficacy, duration of efficacy, safely and equitable distribution worldwide to all humankind is not a bygone issue yet.

COVID-19 is easy to diagnose during its pandemic with prominent symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, weakness, diarrhoea, nasal stuffiness, headache, loss of smell, loss of taste, chest and body aches etc. Moderate to severe cases tend to lose a lot of body weight. The most important symptom to watch for is breathlessness and fall in oxygen saturation. Long COVID symptoms can linger on for several months in many cases with continuing weakness and tingling sensation in the limbs, sometimes recurring low-grade fever and cough.

We have treated tens of thousands of COVID -19 cases by now and deal with its variations and all levels of its severity. Timing of its investigation, especially to establish the inflammatory and hypercoagulable states caused by COVID-19 is very crucial to give the patient the best chance of survival from severe disease and prevent moderate disease from becoming severe. Finally, we have to save such patients from long term sequel of Lung Fibrosis following massive Pneumonia and ARDS that many patients develop.

Dr.M.S.Kanwar has contributed 12 chapters to and edited The World’s First Comprehensive Text Book on COVID-19 which is mainly for medical faculty, but it is a single resource for serious public also who wish to learn more about this treacherous disease.