Cytokine Storm of SARS-CoV-2, the Virus that Causes COVID-19

The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 has spread to the entire globe and is a public health emergency of international concern. The clinical picture of the disease is seen to be related to previously encountered beta-coronaviruses i.e. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Most common symptoms include fever and cough and less commonly diarrhea, myalgias, nausea, sputum production. Still, other patients can present with multi-organ failure. Mortality risk is related to patient’s age and comorbidities. Laboratory and radiologic investigations are crucial for diagnosis and monitoring the prognosis of patients. The pathophysiology of COVID-19 is related to pulmonary inflammation and lung damage caused by the cytokine storm induced by local infection in the lung alveolar space. The cytokine storm is evident from an increase in the amount of several cytokines like IL1B, IL6, IL7, IL8, IL9, IL10, TNF, an INFγ. At present, a proper treatment for COVID-19 is unavailable. However, supportive care is being given to patients with anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and artificial oxygen respiration. This paper focuses on the cytokine storm observed following SARS-CoV-2 infection and the current treatment strategies for the infection.