%A Yerne, Snehal %T Tobacco consumption as a risk factor for coronavirus disease 2019? %9 Review Article %D 2020 %J International Journal of Community Dentistry %R 10.4103/ijcd.ijcd_4_20 %P 9-12 %V 8 %N 2 %U https://www.ijcommdent.com/article.asp?issn=2589-8388;year=2020;volume=8;issue=2;spage=9;epage=12;aulast=Yerne %8 July 1, 2020 %X In December 2019, a novel coronavirus, now named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), caused a series of acute atypical respiratory diseases in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. After virus identification and isolation, the pathogen for this pneumonia was originally called 2019 novel CoV-2, but has subsequently been officially named SARS-CoV-2 by the WHO. On January 30, 2020, the WHO declared the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Compared with the SARS-CoV that caused an outbreak of SARS in 2003, SARS-CoV-2 has a stronger transmission capacity. The rapid increase in confirmed cases makes the prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) extremely serious. The virus is transmittable between humans and has caused pandemic worldwide. The number of death tolls continues to rise, and a large number of countries have been forced to do social distancing and lockdown. Lack of targeted therapy continues to be a problem. Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 infects host cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, leading to COVID-19-related pneumonia, while also causing acute myocardial injury and chronic damage to the cardiovascular system. The gastrointestinal symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, appetite loss, nausea, and vomiting, and neurologic symptoms include cerebrovascular strokes and encephalitis. %0 Journal Article %I Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications %@ 2589-8388