COVID-19 under spotlight: A close look at the origin, transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of the 2019-nCoV disease

J Cell Physiol. 2020 Dec;235(12):8873-8924. doi: 10.1002/jcp.29735. Epub 2020 May 26.

Abstract

Months after the outbreak of a new flu-like disease in China, the entire world is now in a state of caution. The subsequent less-anticipated propagation of the novel coronavirus disease, formally known as COVID-19, not only made it to headlines by an overwhelmingly high transmission rate and fatality reports, but also raised an alarm for the medical community all around the globe. Since the causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, is a recently discovered species, there is no specific medicine for downright treatment of the infection. This has led to an unprecedented societal fear of the newly born disease, adding a psychological aspect to the physical manifestation of the virus. Herein, the COVID-19 structure, epidemiology, pathogenesis, etiology, diagnosis, and therapy have been reviewed.

Keywords: 2019-nCoV or COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2; diagnosis; epidemiology; etiology; pathogenesis; therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • China / epidemiology
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Immune System / virology*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Respiratory System / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2