Abstract
A cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown origin was detected on December
31th which led to the discovery of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Lungs are the primary site of involvement. SARS-COV-2, which is the
causative agent, enters the alveolar cells using ACE2 as a receptor. Due
to exposure of first cases to Wuhan’s animal market, a zoonotic
transmission was suspected. Further studies suggested human to human
transmission through contact and droplets. Symptoms vary from
asymptomatic to acute respiratory distress syndrome and death and cases
are diagnosed based on clinical and laboratory findings. Currently,
there is no definitive treatment or vaccine and different antiviral and
other treatments are being tested as possible therapeutic agents with
different mechanisms, for example, Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine,
azithromycin, favipiravir, umifenovir, ribavirin, Ivermectin, etc.