Review of COVID-19 Re-Infection among Recovered Patients and Its Implication for Lung Health

COVID-19 infection has continued to pose a very serious health threat to mankind globally despite all efforts geared toward curbing its spread. More worrisome recently is the report from different parts of the world on the re-infection of those treated and recovered with COVID -19 patients thus making containment of the virus even more difficult. Of more worrisome is the fact that the lung, a vital human organ is a major site being attacked by the virus even on re-infection cases. If quick action is not taken early enough, it may lead to the outright death of the patient. A lung infection, (Pneumonia) caused by COVID-19 has been discovered to be having a stunning effect on hospital systems and killing COVID-19 patients silently and it occurs even as the patient is asymptomatic. This paper examines the reasons for re-infection, Lacuna in the reviewed literature with regards to PCR test results, the effect of re-infection on the lungs, and implication for patients’ lung health. The papers summarized and concluded that it’s a fact that re-infection occurs among patients accompanied by mild or severe symptoms having far-reaching implications for the patient’s lung health. The paper recommends that the government at all levels should collaborate with WHO, CDC, and health policymakers to legally mandating, that every recovered patient should stay an additional 2weeks in the hospital for early detection of re-infection in order to avert any invasion and damage to the lungs thus ensuring lung health. Also, proper health education should be availed to the recovered patients to avoid any exposures or habits (different from the index disease) such as smoking that can pose dangers to the already fatigued lungs.