COVID pneumonia is a complication ofCOVID-19in which the air sacs of the lungs fill with fluid or pus.
Severe COVID pneumonia is associated with a high risk of death.
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Can COVID Cause Pneumonia?
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Pneumonia causes illness by triggering severeinflammationin the lungs, causing them to swell and leak fluids into the airways.
Because of this, the infection and symptoms are largely confined to the upper airways.
In these people, the infection can migrate and establish an infection within the lungs, leading to pneumonia.
This is especially true in people withweakened immune systemsand certain pre-existing medical conditions.
How is COVID Pneumonia Diagnosed?
COVID pneumonia is diagnosed in the same way as other forms of pneumonia.
With that said, many people with COVID pneumonia are not diagnosed with COVID-19 until they seek emergency care.
According to a 2021 study from Northwestern University, COVID pneumonia lasts longer than many other types of pneumonia.
This is because the virus appears to disrupt communications between immune cells and interfere with a coordinated immune response.
Rather than days, a person with severe COVID pneumonia can sometimes be hospitalized for weeks.
But it is not just the lungs that are affected.
How to Prevent COVID Pneumonia
The best way to prevent COVID pneumonia is to avoid getting COVID-19.
It tends to last longer than other types of pneumonia and often requires prolonged hospitalization.
The best way to prevent COVID pneumonia is to avoid getting COVID-19, which includes getting the COVID vaccines.
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