- One word: scars. Fibrosis, i.e. conversion of functional cells into basically dysfunctional wound-covering cells, scar tissue.
- SARS-CoV-2 does only compare to your common flu virus in terms of spreading. But it works differently in your body. With influenza, you don't have lasting aftereffects. Compare CoViD-19 effects ("long-CoViD") with necrosis, or cystic fibrosis, a condition based on a genetical disposition, read it up on Wikipedia. Necrosis has your tissue rotting away, e.g. bacteria (possibly along with other things) happily munching up your flesh and leaving empty space behind, small spots may be recovered by growing, larger damage less so. Cystic fibrosis comes in several appearances, one of it affects lung tissue: the tiny 'hairs' in your lungs that help transporting out particles (like dust breathed in) and slime that impair normal functioning, don't work. Hurtful caughing, your lungs clot up, inflammation deals further damage. Depending on severity, death at a young age is possible; as of recent, there is new medication available, so the outlook isn't as bleak as before, but it can be costly, and the earlier the diagnosis, and the more specific, the better. Genetic propability analysis for potential parents is possible, too.
- If you survived CoViD-19, generally speaking, the younger you are or the fitter your biology is, and the less severe the illness was, the lesser the damage and the higher your chances of recovery. Scars on your skin may last a life, or a long time, or shorter, disappearing, all depending on size, depth, body area, skin condition, age contracted, overall health, etc. Scars in internal organs can impair their functioning, maybe unnoticed in small scale, only becoming apparent in larger dimension or later, when an aging body can compensate less. Think on liver damage by hepatis or abooze.
- SARS-CoV-2 isn't overly posh in selecting where to deal damage, it happily accepts what's on offer. Infection happens through wet tissue (mucous membranes), wounds, or direct insertion. Main entry points are respiratory paths and organs, which also are the main exit points, i.e. onto other people. But the virus doesn't need to stop where it entered, it can spread in the body, to inner organs, including brain (zombie issues, anyone?).
- Now, some people wonder how they got infected despite meticulously following protection recommendations.
-- Well, a breathing mask doesn't protect your eyes when walking through a small vapor of invisible aerosoles somebody left behind (speaking of behind... are rear winds infective? just kidding, but still...). Likely to happen in small spaces with poor ventilation. Have a small cut, abrasion, opened blister, even just irritated skin? Treat it, cover it.
-- On exhale, feel air passing through at the edge of your mask? The same way stuff flying around can get in on inhale.
-- The longer you wear the mask, the more exhaled humidity leaving your body, and skin secretions like sweat and fat collect in it. Humidity makes the fabric structures cling together, widening fabric pores, allowing larger aerosoles/particles to enter. In rooms, crowds, confined or risky spaces, I suggest a textile mask (washable) first and a KN95 type over it, both fastened behind the head, i.e. more snug/sealing and adjustable, leaving your ears for hearing instead for sailing. The textile mask helps to catch humidity and skin stuff, ensuring longer and safer functionality of the KN95, and it seals off spaces between skin and KN95 mask. Requires healthy breathing apparatus and circulation, though. If longer, find places to take brakes to replenish oxygen levels. If you have breathing difficulties, use KN95 type only, or at least simple medical or textile mask. Any is better than none and at least reduces amount of virus intake, if it happens.
-- You arrive home, close the door behind you, and think you're safe? Nope, sorry. Why do you think they have decontamination areas at CoViD stations? You take off your mask and, relieved, take a deep breath - thus possibly inhaling what has been losely clinging to the outside of the mask, your hair, your clothing, your skin. Don't panic, the risc is small, I'm just giving an example of the numerous occasions that can stab you in the back while you're thinking you did all you could. You probably did, too.
-- Got vaccinated or had CoViD and recovered - and yet, got it again? Well, either new infection or, instead of being defeated, the virus could have survived hidden in some spot inside of you; TBC has that trick, too. Then, inoculation is limited, depending on factors like effectiveness of a vaccine itself, age, virus variant, immune system fitness. The latter can be influenced by stress, nutrition, sleep, other infections or illnesses. When you're carrying two kids or a heavy box with both arms, you can't reach down to keep your clothing from slipping to the ground because your waist got thinner because you didn't eat enough, and forgot to get a tighter belt because you didn't sleep enough, and you can't walk faster to escape the situation because, well, garment tangled around your ancles. Weird imagery, sorry, but I hope you get the picture: exhaustion makes stumbling makes fall. |
