Part of the sense of unease stems from the fact that there's a lot of unknowns about COVID-19including its symptoms. In fact, medical experts and health organizations have continually updated signs of the disease. Plus, some of the coronavirus symptoms can seem to those of , confusing people everywhere about whether they have COVID-19.
The Full, Updated List of COVID-19 Symptoms You Need to Know
The new , which causes the disease known as COVID-19, was in December 2019, and has spread quickly throughout the world, causing , in the stock market, and an overarching global unease.
All the Coronavirus Symptoms to Look Out For
What are the symptoms of the coronavirus disease?
According to , those with the 2019 strain of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 have respiratory symptoms that could range from a mild cold and flu-like symptoms to something more severe. Initially, the CDC warned that the following could indicate you have COVID-19:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
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In late April, the CDC added additional signs of infection after doctors around the world discovered new symptoms.
These are the 6 New COVID-19 symptoms
- chills
- repeated shaking with chills
- muscle pain
- headache
- sore throat
- new loss of taste or smell
The CDC notes that the symptoms are not conclusive. In fact, CDC information differs slightly from the World Health Organization.
According to the WHO, the most common symptoms are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. They also note that some patients may experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhea.
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About 80% of people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms when it strikes, says Robert Glatter, M.D., Mens Health advisor and emergency physician at Lenox Hill. The most common presenting symptom is fever, followed by cough, shortness of breath, myalgias [muscle aches] and headache. It may be difficult to distinguish the flu from COVID-19 in the initial stages of illness. Thats where diagnostic testing may prove useful.
That said, he added, the symptoms of influenza are generally more severe and abrupt in onset. We typically see sudden onset of fever, chills, back pain, muscle aches and fatigue.
The WHO also reports that people may also have non-specific symptoms such as a sore throat, nasal congestion, malaise, and headaches.
The new coronavirus can be dangerous in some cases; a study from reports that 20 percent of the cases that have been confirmed are classified as either severe or critical, with an estimated fatality rate of about two percent. Be aware that this also means 80 percent of the cases are mild.
The CDC also explains that it takes 2 to 14 days for the symptoms to develop, so you should call your doctor if youve travelled to one of the specified by the organization as or have been in close contact with someone traveling in these locations. Also call your doctor if you have symptoms.
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Which countries are affected with the virus?
As of April 28, 2020, there are more than 2 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, according to the . Some of the countries with confirmed cases include Italy, Australia, the Philippines, Germany, Israel and the U.S.
People who are presumably healthy should take precautions to get good information about the disease and protect yourself . That, of course, includes practicing social distancing and checking in with your doctor if you are concerned you have been exposed to the new coronavirus.
The CDC also recommends that you with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the amount of time it would take to sing Happy Birthday twice) after using the restroom, sneezing, blowing your nose and before you eat anything. It is also recommended to not touch your eyes, mouth and nose.
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