In the Netherlands, the NRC reported today that half the patients suffering from COVID-19 in intensive care are under the age of 50, which means that the coronavirus does not just affect the elderly, and that younger people should also take precaution.
Thus far, studies have shown that those most likely to develop complications are over the age of 50, and that younger patients have less severe symptoms (which last 1-5 days and then ameliorate).
And although this has also been the case in the Netherlands, symptoms can quickly deteriorate and result in severe breathing problems and abnormalities even for those under 50.
In the Netherlands, people infected with coronavirus are only hospitalised if they develop severe pneumonia and severe respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). These illnesses make it difficult for patients to absorb oxygen due to inflammation in the lungs. Such patients need to be on ventilation for approximately three weeks before recovering completely.
The NRC reports that half the patients in the ICU may be under 50 because the number of people in that demographic is just relatively bigger than in other countries. It could also be that these numbers are completely representative because there just aren’t that many coronavirus patients in the ICU.
However, it should still be noted that the elderly remain the most vulnerable group to the virus.
More information about COVID-19 in the Netherlands
For more information, be sure to check out our guide to coronavirus in the Netherlands to stay up-to-date with the most recent information.
You can also watch our video, where we touch upon questions like how did coronavirus come to the Netherlands? What can you do against it in daily life? Is the Netherlands properly prepared for a COVID-19 pandemic?
Thank you for update.