[ad_1]
Because it is a very new microorganism, the coronavirus continues to intrigue scientists. One of the most puzzling points about the infection, which can affect anyone, is that while many patients die from Covid-19, others don’t even know they’ve had the disease. According to some studies, the number of asymptomatic symptoms, that is, without symptoms, can vary between 30% and 40% of people who test positive. And despite not feeling anything, these people can, yes, transmit the virus; when we speak, for example, microdroplets are expelled with the coronavirus.
“In some people, even having contact with the virus for the first time, the body can control the evolution of the infection. In these cases, the symptoms are non-existent or very mild, “explains Luciano Lourenço, general practitioner, coordinator of the emergency room of the Santa Lúcia Hospital. Patients with few signs of the disease, but who still have them, usually lose their taste and smell for a few days, for example.
According to Luciano, the amount of virus with which the patient has contact and the way in which he has been infected make all the difference in the development of symptoms. If one already has a very high viral load right away (as in confirmed patient contact cases), the person is more likely to show signs of the disease and progress to a serious condition.
“The amount has a direct influence on the impact of this infection. If it is less virus, the evolution tends to be smooth, “says the doctor. As in a battle scenario, if the enemy’s army is larger than that of the defenders, the war becomes a little more complicated for the homeowners. Otherwise, victory is easier.
However, there are exceptions: some people, even exposed to small viral loads, can have the most severe form of the disease, and vice versa. But most of them, symptomatic or not, must develop antibodies that prevent reinfection; researchers don’t yet know exactly how long they last in the body.
The only way to know for sure if there was an infection is through a serological examination. In it, a blood sample is taken and the test looks for IgG immunoglobulins (antibodies), which are the second in the line of battle against an invader and are, in principle, permanent.
