Covid unlikely to affect lungs among vaccinated: Expert – ET HealthWorld


Covid unlikely to affect lungs among vaccinated: Expert
NAGPUR: Covid-19 may remain a mucosal (throat) illness rather than a parenchymal (lung) disease for fully vaccinated people now, said pulmonologist Dr Ravindra Sarnaik, who is also a member of the district Covid Task Force.

Dr Sarnaik said this trend has been seen now that a good number of people have been vaccinated, and even if cases rise or a third wave strikes, the virus may affect only surface lining of the windpipe and not the lungs.

“The biggest advantage from vaccination being seen across the world is that the virus won’t be able to affect the lungs with severe disease. Covid-19 is now being divided into two types — parenchymal (involvement of lungs) and mucosal (surface or windpipe),” he said.

Dr Sarnaik added the fear, without vaccine, seen during same period last year, has subsided. “Patients are not as keen on a test as they were during the second wave. This is the effect of vaccination. One may test positive too, but the disease is unlikely to spread further inside the lung, weaken it and affect gas exchange (oxygen level). This has nearly disappeared,” he said.

Anecdotal references regarding negligible admissions and no requirement of oxygenated beds among those recently testing positive across the world have formed the basis for Dr Sarnaik’s claim.

A consolidated data on mucosal and parenchymal patients can give a holistic picture, said pulmonologist Dr Ashok Arbat. “We had four Covid patients admitted recently. One of them had parenchymal lung involvement. Even among vaccinated, there can be both types of Covid patients,” said Dr Arbat.

Yet, Dr Arbat agreed that the new Covid patients have less lung involvement. “Mucosal mean RT-PCR positive but lung not involved. Parenchymal means RT-PCR positive with lung involvement. A CT scan is needed to ascertain lung involvement. In the coming days, patients may have lung infected but it will be minimal. This is because people have antibodies and are vaccinated,” said Dr Arbat.

He added the outbreak of H1N1 in 2014 was virulent but comparatively not many were affected. “As days pass, the virus loses its virulence. It’s a natural process. Similarly, the future Covid-19 outbreaks will be mild but they may have mucosal and some parenchymal involvement. But patients will recover,” he said.

Dr Arbat added that there are also patients with bilateral pneumonia but are RT-PCR negative. “One such patient came to our hospital. He was critical but is recovering now. Such cases show people are getting affected but also recovering and maximum have very less involvement,” he said.

Dr Sarnaik said it will also depend on new variants of Delta, if they come up, and how it affects vaccinated people.





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