Published March 12, 2021, 12:00 am

The Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID- 19 and its signs and symptoms

A new virus started to generate headlines worldwide in early 2020 because of its transmission's unprecedented speed. Its origins have been traced to a food market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. They have been reached from there by countries as far away as the United States and the Philippines. Tens of millions of infections worldwide have been caused by the virus (officially called SARS-CoV-2), causing more than 1.5 million fatalities. The United States is the country that is the most affected. The condition caused by the infection with SARS-CoV-2 is referred to as COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease in 2019. 

What are the symptoms? 

Researchers and physicians are learning interesting and new things about the COVID-19 virus day by day. To date, we understand that COVID-19 might not cause any noticeable symptoms or signs for some individuals. 

Before your symptoms are noticed, you may be carrying the virus for two weeks or sometimes only for two days. 
Some common symptoms specifically related to COVID-19 are as follow: 
● A cough worsening over time 

● Shortness of breath 

● Low grade fever which gradually increases over time 

● Fatigue 

● Chills 

Less common symptoms include: 

● Repeatedly happening Chills 

● Rash 

● Pink eye 

● Finger and toe discoloration 

● Symptoms of GIT (gastro-intestinal-tract) such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea. 

● Runny or stuffy nose 

● Sore throat 

● Loss of smell or taste 

● Headache 

● Muscle pain 

However, in individuals with COVID-19, some, all, or none of the above symptoms may be present. In some people, these symptoms may become more severe. If you have any of the signs or someone you care for, call emergency medical service:
● Trouble breathing 

● Bluish discoloration of lips and face 

● Persistent pressure or pain in the chest 

● Excessive drowsiness 

● Confusion 

The full spectrum of COVID-19 symptoms is still being evaluated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

COVID-19 And Common Flu: Difference 

In the United States, the coronavirus-19 caused more deaths than the common seasonal flu by April 4, 2020, during the 2019-2020 flu season. 

In comparison, approximately 1.76 percent of those with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States died as of December 26, 2020. 
Influenza and COVID-19 are associated with several of the same signs. Typical flu symptoms include: 
● Cough 

● Body aches 

● Chills 

● Fatigue 

● Headache 

● Fever 

● Sore throat 

● Stuffy or runny nose 

Causes of Coronaviruses

There are zoonotic properties to coronaviruses. This implies that before they are transmitted to humans, they develop first in animals. For the virus to be passed from animals to people, a person must contact an animal with the infection. Coronaviruses can be transmitted through respiratory droplets from people to people once the virus develops in individuals. This is a technical name for wet things moving through the air when exhaling, topping, sneezing or talking. The virus material is hanging in these droplets and can be infected in the respiratory tract (i.e., your windpipe and your lungs). You might be infected with SARS-CoV-2 if you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it. However, this is not believed to be the primary way the virus is passed on. SARS-CoV-2 can also be transmitted by airborne transmission of tiny infectious particles which may remain in the air for minutes to hours.However, through close contact with individuals with SARS-CoV-2 and their respiratory droplets, infection is currently thought to be much more prevalent. 
Between the coronavirus-19 and a particular animal, there was no definitive link. Researchers and physicians believe that the COVID-19 virus may be transmitted from bats to other animals such as snakes or pangolins first and then to humans. The transmission of this virus is likely to have occurred in Wuhan's food market. 

 


Who Is At Greater Risk? 

You are at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 if you come in contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2, especially when you are exposed to their saliva or are near when you have coughed, sneezed or talked. 
You are at an increased risk of getting the virus if you:

● Have an intimate partner with the virus 

● Provide care at home for those with the virus 

● Living with somebody who contracts the virus 

If they contract the virus, older adults and individuals with certain other health problems have a higher risk of serious complications. These circumstances of health include:

● Cancer 

● Life-Threatening heart conditions including: 

● Heart failure 

● Coronary artery disease (CAD) 

● Cardiomyopathies 

● Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 

● Weakened Solid Organ Transplant Immune System 

● Sickle cell anemia 

● Obesity occurs in people with a 30 or higher body mass index (BMI) 

● COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) 

● CKD (chronic kidney disease) 

COVID-19 And Pregnancy 

Pregnancy puts you at an increased risk of complications with COVID-19 as well. The CDC reports that pregnant women are more likely to experience severe COVID-19 disease than women who are not pregnant. For example, pregnant women have entered the intensive care unit almost three times the rate of non-pregnant women (ICU). Mortality rates for pregnant women are higher as well. According to a study from September 2020, women with COVID-19 are also more likely than women without COVID-19 to have a preterm birth. During pregnancy, the virus is unlikely to be transmitted from mother to child, but the newborn can contract the virus after delivery.

Conclusion:
shortness of breath, fatigue, cough, and Fever are the most common symptoms of COVID-19.

Because COVID-19 can be life-threatening, it's critical to understand how its symptoms differ from those of other illnesses. This can be accomplished by carefully considering your symptoms, their progression, and your risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2.

Call your doctor if you suspect you have COVID-19. They can assist you in determining whether or not you require testing.

Plan to stay at home until you feel better, but seek emergency medical attention if your symptoms worsen.

 

References: 
  1. Symptoms of Coronavirus. (2021, February 22). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
  2. Signs and Symptoms of the New Coronavirus and COVID-19. (2020, December 20). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/coronavirus-symptoms
  3. Symptoms of Coronavirus. (2021, February 22). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html
  4. 2019-2020 U.S. Flu Season: Preliminary In-Season Burden Estimates. (2020). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm
  5. Recognizing Flu Symptoms. (21 December 2018). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/flu-symptoms
  6. How Does the 2019 Coronavirus Spread? (20 March 2020). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/coronavirus-transmission#from-person-to-person
  7. How COVID-19 Spreads. (28 October 2020). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html
  8. Is the New Coronavirus Airborne? Here's What We Know. (2020, May 10). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/coronavirus-may-be-in-the-air-in-a-crowd-how-to-protect-yourself
  9. Citroner, G. (27 January 2020). Where Did the New Coronavirus Come From? Potentially a Bat, Snake, or Pangolin. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/coronavirus-can-be-deadly-but-they-also-cause-the-common-cold-what-to-know
  10. Bahl, R. (10 November 2020). How Fast COVID-19 Can Spread in a Household. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-fast-covid-19-can-spread-in-a-household
  11.  Evidence used to update the list of underlying medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19. (2020, November 2). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/evidence-table.html
  12. Allotey J, Stallings E, Bonet M, et al.; PregCOV-19 Living Systematic Review Consortium. Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy: living systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2020;370:m3320. [CrossRef] [external icon] [PubMed] 
  13. Thangaratinam, S. (2020, September 01). Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy: living systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3320