A Comprehensive Review on Covid-19: Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: The year 2019 heralds one of the darkest times human beings have ever encountered. A novel corona virus outbreak (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. The terminal virus has quickly swept at such an alarming rate around the globe with a severity that has confounded people, including scientists and medical fraternities all over the world. The pandemic has exploded and become a global health emergency. Objective: This comprehensive review explores the pathophysiology of COVID virus, the transmission of its variants, symptoms, long-term COVID complications, diagnosis, and current pharmacotherapy, including vaccines. Methods: The published literature was assessed for appraisal of all information available on COVID virus, its diagnosis, and pharmacotherapy; as per the guidelines for the use of electronic and internet media, high-quality and reliable medical information from the internet was retrieved only from reliable sources. Results: The number of cases and deaths due to COVID is much higher than the ones reported. Currently, the sub-variant of omicron, BA.5, is the one actively prevailing countrywide. There is no end in sight for the pandemic, as active cases and related mortality are still reported. Conclusion: The trend for SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalizations, and deaths remains unpredictable at best. Extra precautions are still advised.