RESUMO
Viruses are becoming more and more important as etiological agents of pneumonia, mainly due to improvements in diagnostic techniques. At present, they account for approximately one-third of community-acquired pneumonia cases. They tend to occur in children and elderly patients, causing anything from mild cases to severe cases which require intubation and intensive care. The main causative agents include rhinovirus, influenza virus A or B, metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, coronavirus, or adenovirus. Infection produced by SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has had devastating consequences, is proof of the vital importance of viral pneumonia. This is the main subject of this update. Drawing on the abundant information available, which has been continuously evolving since the beginning of the pandemic, this section will review the main characteristics of the virus, its pathophysiology, and its clinical manifestations as well as the main diagnostic and treatment methods.
RESUMO
SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a wide spectrum of symptoms with varying degrees of severity, from asymptomatic cases or cases in the form of self-limiting influenza-like illness to cases of rapidly progressing respiratory distress syndrome due to an anomalous immune system response in the form of a cytokine storm. Thrombotic complications are also common. Multiple antiviral treatments have been tested in COVID-19 without favorable outcomes. Only remdesivir may be useful, but not in all cases, and its use is controversial. On the contrary, immunomodulating treatments have the most solid evidence, particularly glucocorticoids. Other more specific immunosuppressors, such as interleukin-6 inhibitors, have also shown favorable results and many others are currently being studied. Thromboprophylaxis is the other pillar of COVID-19 treatment, although the anticoagulant dose to be used is still being discussed.
