On May 7, 2025y, a presentation was held at the department of propaedeutics of children’s diseases on the topic: "Covid-19 and its complications". The presentation was prepared by 3^rd year students of the medical faculty, group 48 Ibodzoda Sh. and Davlatov I.

     Origin of the virus. SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have originated in bats. It was then transmitted to humans through an intermediate host. The first cases were reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The virus has spread rapidly around the world, causing a global pandemic. Mechanism of transmission: airborne (the virus is transmitted through droplets released by coughing and sneezing) and contact (the virus can be transmitted by contact with contaminated surfaces). Clinical manifestations and symptoms of the disease: fever, cough, muscle pain and difficulty in breathing. COVID-19 symptoms range from mild to severe. Some people may be asymptomatic carriers. Serious complications include pneumonia and respiratory failure. Diagnosis - PCR-test, rapid antigen test, test for antibodies to the virus Covid-19. Preventive activities and protection of the population - wearing a mask (protects against the spread of the virus), hand hygiene (regular hand washing with soap), social distancing, self-isolation (staying at home when symptoms appear). Vaccines help to reduce the risk of disease and severe complications. Social-economic impact of a pandemic: economic decline, health system overload and lack of resources, shift to distance learning and loss of study time. Psychological impact and mental health during isolation: anxiety, depression, stress, isolation. Isolation and uncertainty led to an increase in psychological problems. It is important to maintain mental health and seek help when needed.

     By January 2025, over 777 million cases had been reported worldwide since the pandemic; More than 7 million deaths have been confirmed, making the COVID-19 pandemic one of the deadliest in history.

Coronaviruses in different countries as of April 2025: in the USA, infected 111820082 and 109814428 cases are recovered.

     Since its emergence, Covid-19 has generated many mutations, each with its own characteristics. These strains have varying degrees of contagiousness, severity of symptoms, and resistance to vaccination in adults and children. Let's look at the most common variants:

1.     Alpha is the first of the significant strains of Covid. It was identified in the UK, in late 2020. Alpha proved to be more infectious than Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Led to a dramatic number of infections in Europe and other parts of the world. Delta - was dominant until the advent of Omicron and caused a large number of severe cases. Characterised by a marked ability to affect the respiratory system with ‘long-lasting’ effects.

2. Omicron - discovered the end 2021y, it quickly became dominant in many countries around the world. Unlike previous strains, Omicron causes less severe symptoms, but its high rate of spread has led to a significant increase in the number of infections.

3.     Eris - was discovered in early 2023y. It has become a major cause of new outbreaks in Europe. Characterized by its ability to evade the body's immune response, even in those who have been previously vaccinated and transferred Coronavirus.

4.     Kraken - also appeared in early 2023, known for its high mutation ability. It has spread rapidly around the world, characterized by the manifestation of more severe symptoms. All of the above-mentioned strains of coronavirus (Covid-19), as well as the new Flirt, show how quickly Covid can change its properties, adapting to the modern environment. They demonstrate the high survivability of the virus, despite the capabilities of modern medicine and the epidemiological barriers built by humanity.

     The Flirt strain is a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, which has been considered a surveillance variant for several months. According to the latest WHO data of the first half of December 2024, the Flirt option is currently the only observable option worldwide whose prevalence is growing rapidly.

However, WHO also states that the Flirt variant has minimal immune protection benefit in previously vaccinated individuals and that there is currently no evidence that it can cause more severe disease than other circulating variants. The most common and highly effective method of diagnosing Covid-19 Flirt is PCR testing. Complications of transferred coronavirus:

1.     Post-Covid syndrome is a set of symptoms that persist weeks and months after recovery from Covid Flirt. The manifestations are: headaches, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, problems with concentration.

2. Cardiovascular system disorders – common consequences of the coronavirus "Flirt" for the cardiovascular system are: myocarditis, thrombosis, arrhythmia and increased risk of heart attacks. They are especially dangerous for people who previously had heart disease and were registered with a cardiologist.

3. Lung damage - the new Flirt strain is particularly aggressive on the lungs. Common consequences are: pulmonary fibrosis and decreased respiratory function;

4. Neurological complications - memory impairment, cognitive impairment, increased anxiety, up to depression.

Department of propaedeutics of children's diseases