Cytokine Storm

A cytokine storm is an overreaction by an immune response such that it releases too many cytokines than are beneficial. This can cause a fatal inflammatory reaction. The necessity for early treatment of COVID-19 -- rather than a "wait and see" approach -- is to advert a deadly cytokine storm.

Some have suspected that a cytokine storm, which hits starting around day 3 of the progression of COVID-19, is what causes its high mortality. It is characterized by:

• low oxygen levels observable by pulse oximeters, which is why ventilators are used but often do not actually save the patients' lives
• high fever (more than 103 degrees)
• low blood pressure
• a white cell count at 2,000 when it should be between 4.5 and 10.
• lymphocytes, which fight a virus, at 200 when they should be between 1000 and 1,500 — they were under 200.
• low platelet count, such as 100,000

Others dispute that a cytokine storm occurs worse in COVID-19.^[1]

See also[edit]

• What it feels like to survive COVID-19’s dreaded ‘cytokine storm’

References[edit]