Research has made it clear that people hospitalized with COVID-19 can have a long road to recovery. However, a new study published by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention argues that even those who never seek hospital treatment may experience long-term effects and prolonged symptoms several weeks after testing positive. In other words, a surprising number of people don’t “back down” from COVID the same way they do with the flu.
“COVID-19 can cause prolonged illness even among people with milder outpatient illnesses, including young adults,” the CDC wrote, reporting the surprising finding of their multistate studyinvolving 292 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.
Of these, 274 reported experiencing symptoms of the highly infectious and life-threatening virus. While most recovered within a few weeks, more than a third (35%) reported that they had not returned to their normal health 2-3 weeks after their initial test. The researchers also disaggregated it by age, finding that even the youngest and healthiest individuals suffered from prolonged symptoms. This included 26% among people ages 18-34, 32% among people ages 35-49, and 47% among people age 50 and older.
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Among respondents reporting cough, fatigue, or shortness of breath at the time of the test, 43%, 35%, and 29%, respectively, continued to experience these symptoms 2-3 weeks later. Overall, the most common symptoms reported were fatigue (71 percent), lasting cough (61 percent), and ongoing headaches (61 percent). While fever and chills were more likely to resolve quickly, others proved persistent. Among respondents reporting cough, fatigue, or shortness of breath at the time of the test, 43%, 35%, and 29%, respectively, continued to experience these symptoms 2-3 weeks later.
“This report indicates that even among symptomatic adults evaluated in outpatient settings, it could take weeks to resolve symptoms and return to normal health,” the authors continued.
Take preventive measures
The CDC made sure to mention that “more than 90 percent of influenza outpatients recover in about two weeks” after a positive flu test.
They emphasized the importance of their findings and added that “effective public health messages directed at these groups are warranted.” And, of course, they also recommend preventive measures such as social distancing, frequent handwashing, and consistent and correct use of facial coatings in public. As for you: to overcome this pandemic in the healthiest way, don’t miss these 37 places that are more likely to get coronavirus.
Gallery: These are the 6 types of coronavirus, study sample (ETNT Health)
These are the 6 types of coronavirus, study shows
Fever, dry cough, loss of sense of smell and taste: in recent months they have been identified as the most common symptoms of COVID-19. However, many coronavirus patients experience a wide range of symptoms, ranging from headaches and fatigue to even confusion and shortness of breath. Researchers from King’s College London, in a new study, accumulated data from around 1,600 coronavirus patients in the United States and the United Kingdom who used the COVID Symptom Tracker app in March and April to record their symptoms and determine which symptoms tended to appear. together and how they were related to the progression of the virus.
These are the six groups of symptoms that they identified:
1. Flu without fever
Headache, loss of smell, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever. Patients who fall into this milder category have a 1.5% chance of needing respiratory support, such as oxygen or a ventilator, and only 16% require hospitalization.
2. Flu-like with fever
Headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite. About 4.4% of patients at this level required respiratory support.
4. Severe level one, fatigue
Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue. Patients at this level required respiratory support at a rate of 8.6%. Patients in this “severe group” also tend to be older or with pre-existing conditions (such as diabetes or lung disease), obesity, or weakened immune systems.
5. Serious level two, confusion
Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain. About 10% of patients at this level required respiratory support. Patients in severe groups also tend to be older or with pre-existing conditions (such as diabetes or lung disease), obesity, or weakened immune systems.
6. Level three severe, abdominal and respiratory
Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain. Almost 20% of these patients require respiratory support and almost half of the patients with type six required hospitalization. Again, people in this “severe” group were more likely to be older or with pre-existing conditions (such as diabetes or lung disease), obesity, or weakened immune systems.
7. The meaning of these findings
“These findings have important implications for the care and monitoring of people who are most vulnerable to severe COVID-19,” Dr. Claire Steves of King’s College London explained in an accompanying document. Press release. “If you can predict who these people are on the fifth day, you have time to provide them with support and early interventions, such as checking their blood sugar and oxygen levels, and making sure they are adequately hydrated, simple care that could be provided in the home, avoiding hospitalizations and saving lives. ” As for you, don’t miss this essential report: 21 subtle signs that you’ve already had coronavirus.
