Potassium Levels in COVID Subjects: Current Observations and New Possibilities for its use in COVID Diagnosis
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing covid infection in humans is a major global threat to healthcare and economy. According to the recent statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease has already involved all continents, with almost 117,498,522 cases with more than 2,606,626 deaths all over the globe until March 2021. It is thus, imperative to study and develop pharmacological treatments suitable for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. The COVID causing virus is mainly transmitted through cough or sneeze droplets generated by an infected person. Hence its early and accurate diagnosis appears essential for minimizing spread, prevention and eventually containment of the pandemic. Also, since the clinical presentation of the COVID infection is varied starting from asymptomatic to severe cases, it reinforces the need for detection methods that are simple, early and with good sensitivity and specificity. This article reviews impact of potassium ions in functioning of various organs in humans and its possible role in COVID disease progression.
