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