Who is affected by COVID-19
Patients at risk of COVID-19 can be any one of us. It can be children, young adults and the elderly. Based on currently available information from severely hit countries, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Based on CDC’s clinical expertise, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are:
- People aged 65 years and older
- People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled
- Does not babble by 12 months
- No gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
- No expressive vocabulary by 16 months
- No meaningful two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
- Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
- Does not respond to name by 12 months
Here are some of the underlying conditions mentioned above:
- People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
- People who have serious heart conditions
- People who have weak immune systems
- People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
- People with diabetes
- People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
- People with liver disease
- Does not respond to name by 12 months
Once again, although these people are at a higher risk of getting severe symptoms, there have been cases worldwide to show healthy young people who have died from COVID-19 without showing any symptoms until it was too late. Since it can affect anyone in a community outbreak, which has already happened in Pakistan with more than 3000 cases (as of April 6th), we all need to be cautious about how we live day-to-day. WHO recommends staying indoors and maintaining social distance to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19. Also, wash your hands and avoid touching your face. Taking these precautions is important in reducing your risk of contracting COVID-19.
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