A study by researchers at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas points to a hidden consequence of COVID-19 that could reshape how physicians understand severe infections.
Since, most of us have experienced and lived Covid19 pandemic I’m assuming that we all have had Covid19 at least once in our lifetimes. This is to point out that we all carry forms of one or other viruses in our body.
Individuals carrying multiple viruses that can re-activate in certain conditions:
- During physiological stress
- In severe illness
SARS-CoV2 infection has been shown to reactivate chronic viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus.
Findings in the research challenge the prevailing view that chronic viral infections are caused by immunosuppression in patients, it highlights that reactivation is primary cause of immunosuppression. Demonstrating that reactivation occur frequently in immunocompetent individuals during severe illness and in association with increased systemic inflammation.
Full extent and immunological impact of viral reactivation in COVID-19 remain incompletely understood but this research paves way for increasing the scope for understanding reasons underlying reactivation of dormant viruses.
Sources: Virus reactivation in acute and long COVID-19 | Nature
what are your views one active virus activating other dormant viruses present in the body.
MBH/AB