Characterizing severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in young adults: Reflections around the literature

Abstract

The infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan City, China at the end of December 2019 and it turned into a rapidly evolving pandemic. It represents the most serious public health threat of the current century since it affects all spheres of global functioning, to the extent that today its name is being reconsidered at the level of syndemic. The SARS-CoV-2 betacoronavirus generates outbreaks of acute respiratory infection similar to those documented for SARS-CoV that emerged in Hanoi, Vietnam at the beginning of 2003. A considerable proportion of patients with 2019-nCoV disease (COVID-19) evolves into severe forms that may require support in intensive care units with high morbidity and mortality in the short and medium term (1).