What organs of the body can COVID-19 affect?

iChhori Team
Which Organs Can COVID-19 Affect?

Which Organs Can COVID‑19 Affect?

🔍 What the iChhori Article Reports (June 2021)

  • COVID‑19 can impact multiple organs—lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, brain, digestive system, skin, eyes.
  • Severe cases may involve blood clotting issues and multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

🧠 Evidence-Based Findings

  • Lungs: Primary site—can cause pneumonia, ARDS, respiratory failure :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
  • Heart & vascular system: Myocarditis, arrhythmias, clotting (DVT/PE), endothelial damage—even months post-infection :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
  • Kidneys: Acute injury common in severe cases; up to 24% hospitalized patients :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
  • Liver: Elevated enzymes in ~20–30% of patients :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
  • Brain & nervous system: Strokes, encephalopathy, brain fog, neuropathy, anosmia/ageusia—acute and long‑term :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
  • GI tract: Nausea, diarrhea, reflux, IBS—ACE2 expression in gut :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
  • Skin, eyes, endocrine system, muscles, blood: Documented involvement; multisystem failure possible :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

⚠️ Long COVID & Hidden Damage

  • 10–30% of mild cases, and over 50% of hospitalized cases experience persistent organ dysfunction (“long COVID”) :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
  • Cognitive decline and loss of brain tissue (~0.2–2%) noted even in mild cases up to a year post-infection :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
  • Microvascular damage from red blood cell “clumps” may explain organ failures in brain, kidney, liver, heart :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

✅ Recommendations

  • Monitor organ function: Especially heart, lungs, kidneys, liver in moderate/severe COVID-19.
  • Clot prevention: Consider anticoagulants under medical advice.
  • Follow-up care: Imaging, pulmonary tests, cognitive assessment for long COVID symptoms.
  • Manage symptoms: Physical therapy, mental health support, rehab for fatigue/muscle, dietary/gastro care.

🔎 Summary

COVID-19 is a multisystem disease—not just a respiratory infection. It impacts the lungs, cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver, brain, gut, and more. Both acute and lingering damage are well-documented. Vigilant monitoring, early treatment of complications (like clotting), and long-term follow-up are key to reducing lasting harm.

Sources: MedicineNet, Health.org (AHA), WebMD, Wikipedia, BMC Infectious Diseases, Nature‑family studies, recent PNAS insights, The Australian, news reports.

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