Pathogenesis of COVID-19 Infection

ABSTRACT

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has produced a grave global pandemic and resulted in a serious public health crisis accompanied by loss of life and economy. The causative virus is known, but the exact pathogenesis and cascade of events that ensue are still poorly understood. It is now known that the virus enters through the respiratory route by attaching to ACE-2 receptors in the ciliated nasal mucosa. Infection of the lower respiratory system causes a surge in the release of a variety of cytokines that trigger a "cytokine storm” resulting in collateral damage to lungs and vascular endothelium. The damage to vascular endothelium results in multisystem involvement. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.