What are the Symptoms of Coronavirus?

Coronavirus Symptoms (COVID-19)

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that could cause diseases for example the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). In 2019, a new coronavirus was discovered as the cause of a disease outbreak that started in China.

The virus is now also called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease it causes is also known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic.

Public health groups, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO, are examining the pandemic and posting information on their websites. These groups have also issued suggestions for preventing and treating the disease.

Symptoms of Coronavirus

Signs and symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) might appear two to fourteen days after exposure. This time after exposure and before having symptoms is also known as the incubation period. Common signs and symptoms could include:

• Fever

• Cough

• Tiredness

Early corona symptoms might include a loss of taste or smell.

Other symptoms could include:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Muscle aches

• Chills

• Sore throat

• Runny nose

• Headache

• Chest pain

• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Rash

This is not a full list. Children have similar symptoms to adults and usually have mild disease.

The severity of COVID-19 symptoms could start from very mild to severe. Some people might have only a few symptoms, and some people might have no symptoms at all. Some people might experience worsened symptoms, for example, worsening shortness of breath and pneumonia, about a week after symptoms begin.

People who are older have a higher risk of severe disease from COVID-19, and the risk increases with age. People who have existing medical conditions also might have a higher risk of severe disease. Specific medical conditions that might increase the risk of severe disease from COVID-19 include:

• Serious heart diseases, for example, heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathy

• Cancer

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes

• Overweight, obesity, or serious obesity

• High blood pressure

• Smoking

• Chronic kidney disease

• Sickle cell disease or thalassemia

• Weakened immune system from solid organ transplants

• Pregnancy

• Asthma

• Chronic lung diseases for example cystic fibrosis or pulmonary fibrosis

• Liver disease

• Dementia

• Down syndrome

• Weakened immune system from bone marrow transplant, HIV, or some medications

• Brain and nervous system conditions

• Substance use disorders

This is not a full list. Other hidden medical conditions might increase your risk of severe disease from COVID-19.

When should you see a doctor?

If you have COVID-19 signs or symptoms or you have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, contact your doctor or primary care physician, or clinic right away for medical advice. Inform your health care team about your symptoms and possible exposure before you go to your appointment.

If you have emergency COVID-19 signs and symptoms, seek out care immediately. Emergency signs and symptoms could include:

• Trouble breathing

• Continuous chest pain or pressure

• Inability to stay awake

• New confusion

• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds depending upon skin tone

This is not a full list. Let your doctor or primary care physician know if you are an older adult or have chronic medical conditions, for example, heart disease or lung disease, as you might have a greater risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19. During the pandemic, it is crucial to make sure health care is available for those in greatest require.

Causes

Infection with the new novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people and more continues to be discovered over time about how it spreads. Data has shown that it spreads primarily from person to person among those in close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters). The virus spreads through breathing droplets that are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathes, sings or talks. These droplets could be inhaled or land in the mouth, nose, or eyes of a person nearby.

In some situations, the COVID-19 virus could spread by a person being exposed to small droplets or aerosols that stay in the air for several minutes or hours also known as airborne transmission. We do not yet know how frequently the virus spreads in this way.

It could also spread if a person touches a surface or object with the virus on it and then touches his or her mouth, nose, or eyes, however, this is not considered to be the main way it spreads.

Some reinfections of the virus that causes COVID-19 have happened, but these have been unusual.

Risk factors

Risk factors for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) appear to include:

• Close contact (within 6 feet, or 2 meters) with someone who has coronavirus disease COVID-19

• Being coughed or sneezed on by a diseased person

Complications

However, most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms, the disease could cause serious medical complications and cause death in some people. Senior citizens or people with existing medical conditions are at greater risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19.

Complications could include:

• Pneumonia and trouble breathing

• Organ failure in various organs

• Heart problems

• A serious lung condition that causes a low amount of oxygen to go through your bloodstream to your organs (acute respiratory distress syndrome)

• Blood clots

• Acute kidney injury

• Additional viral and bacterial infections

Prevention

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency use authorization or permission for 3 COVID-19 vaccines, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. A vaccine may prevent you from getting COVID-19 or prevent you from becoming severely ill from COVID-19 if you get the COVID-19 virus.

You could take additional steps to lower your risk of infection. WHO and CDC suggest following these precautions for avoiding exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19:

• Avoid close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) with anyone who is unwell or has symptoms.

• Keep distance between yourself and everyone else (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters). This is particularly important if you have a higher risk of serious disease. Keep in mind some people might have COVID-19 and spread it to others, even if they do not have symptoms or do not know they have COVID-19.

• Avoid crowds and indoor places that have poor air circulation.

• Wash your hands usually with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that comprises at least 60 percent alcohol.

• Cover your face with a cloth face mask in public spaces, for example, the grocery store, where it is difficult to avoid close contact with others. Surgical masks might be used if available. N95 respirators must be reserved for health care providers.

• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or tissue or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the used tissue. Wash your hands right away.

• Circumvent touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Circumvent sharing dishes, glasses, towels, bedding, and other household items if you are ill.

• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, for example, doorknobs, light switches, electronics, and counters, daily.

• Stay home from work, school, and public areas if you are ill, unless you are going to get medical care. Circumvent public transportation, taxis, and ride-sharing if you are sick.

If you have a chronic medical condition and might have a higher risk of serious disease, check with your doctor or primary care physician about other ways to protect yourself.

Diagnosis

If you develop symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or you have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, contact your doctor or primary care physician. Also, let your doctor or primary care physician know if you have had close contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Factors used to decide whether to test you for the virus that causes COVID-19 might differ depending upon where you live. Depending on your location, you might require to be screened by your clinic to decide if testing is proper and available.

In the U.S., your doctor or primary care physician will determine whether to conduct tests for the virus that causes COVID-19 based on your signs and symptoms, as well as whether you have had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Your doctor or primary care physician might also consider testing if you are at higher risk of serious disease or you are going to have a medical procedure. If you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 but you have had COVID-19 in the past 3 months or you have been fully vaccinated, you do not require to be tested.

To test for the COVID-19 virus, a health care provider takes a specimen from the nose (nasopharyngeal swab), throat (throat swab), or saliva. The specimen is then sent to a laboratory for testing or analysis. If you are coughing up sputum, that might be sent for testing. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized at-home tests for the COVID-19 virus. These are available only with a doctor’s or primary care physician’s prescription.

Treatment

At the moment, only one drug has been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 disease. No cure or antidote is available for COVID-19. Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections for example COVID-19. Researchers or scientists are testing a variety of possible treatments.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved or allowed the antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury) to treat COVID-19 disease in hospitalized grown-ups and youngsters who are of age 12 years and older in the hospital. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted or permitted an emergency or urgency use authorization or permission for the rheumatoid arthritis drug or medicine baricitinib (Olumiant) to treat COVID-19 disease in some cases.

Baricitinib is a pill that seems to work against COVID-19 by lowering swelling and having antiviral activity. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states baricitinib might be used in combination with remdesivir in people who are hospitalized with COVID-19 who are on mechanical ventilators or require supplemental oxygen.

Three monoclonal antibody medications have received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Monoclonal antibodies are proteins created in a laboratory that could help the immune system fight off viruses. Three monoclonal antibody medications have received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One medication is known as bamlanivimab and the second medication is a combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab.

The 3rd medication is a combination of 2 antibodies known as casirivimab and imdevimab. All 3 drugs are used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people who have a greater risk of developing the serious disease because of COVID-19. Treatment comprises a single intravenous infusion given in an outpatient setting. To be most effective, these medications require to be given soon after COVID-19 symptoms begin and before hospitalization.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has suggested corticosteroid dexamethasone for people hospitalized with serious COVID-19 who are on supplemental oxygen or require mechanical ventilation. Other corticosteroids, for example, prednisone, methylprednisolone, or hydrocortisone, might be used if dexamethasone is not available.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also permitted emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma therapy to treat COVID-19. Convalescent plasma is blood donated by people who have recovered or cured of COVID-19. It is used to treat people who are sick with COVID-19 in the hospital.

Many people with COVID-19 might have mild disease and could be treated with supportive care. Supportive care is aimed at relieving symptoms and might include:

• Pain relievers (ibuprofen or acetaminophen)

• Cough syrup or medication

• Rest

• Fluid intake

There is no evidence that ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) require to be avoided.

If you have mild symptoms, your doctor or primary care physician might suggest that you recover at home. He or she might give you special instructions to monitor your symptoms and to avoid spreading the disease to others. You will likely be asked to isolate yourself as much as possible from family and pets while you are sick, wear a mask when you are around people and pets, and use a separate or partitioned bedroom and bathroom.

Your doctor or primary care physician will likely suggest that you stay in home isolation for a period of time except to get medical care. Your doctor or primary care physician will likely follow up with you regularly. Follow guidelines from your doctor or primary care physician and local health department about when you could end home isolation.

If you are very sick, you might require to be treated in the hospital.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from COVID-19, our expert providers at Post Covid Centers will take care of your health and help you recover.

Call +1 469-545-9983 to book a telehealth appointment for a home check-up.