A new review of research reveals "cytokine storms" are key in causing coronavirus cases to go from mild to severe.
According to Business Insider, the so-called 'storms' are an overly aggressive reaction from the patient's own immune system.
The reaction prompts white blood cells to attack healthy lung tissue, resulting in life-threatening damage.
This response was also characteristic of patients who died of H1N1, SARS, MERS, and the 1918 flu.
While older people and those with preexisting health problems are more likely to develop severe cases, children can experience them as well.
Knowing when to block a cytokine storm could be critical to preventing coronavirus deaths.
