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With the marked increase in the number of new positive coronaviruses in Italy, many have once again wondered what are the symptoms of the disease caused by the virus (COVID-19) and what is better to do for oneself and others, reducing the risk . to infect other people.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
• fever of at least 37.5 ° C;
• recent dry cough that usually persists for a few days;
• exhaustion.
The less common include:
• sore throat;
• stuffy or runny nose;
• diarrhea, especially among children;
• partial or total loss of smell and taste, which may persist for several days;
• headache;
• conjunctivitis.
COVID-19 against influenza
In its early stages, COVID-19 often presents with symptoms very similar to those of the flu and other respiratory infections. This in some cases can complicate the diagnosis of the disease and is one of the reasons why it is always good to consult your doctor, in case you have symptoms.
Mild and severe symptoms
In most cases, COVID-19 presents with mild symptoms that tend to resolve in about 10 days. In elderly or frail people, the disease can cause more prominent symptoms that may require hospitalization. The most serious cases are treated in intensive care, with drugs to counteract the replication of the virus and keep the immune response under control, which is sometimes oversized and causes more damage. People who cannot breathe on their own are sedated and intubated, waiting for the body to overcome the infection. Other complications can lead to a worsening of the clinical situation and, in the most serious cases, the death of the patient.
Asymptomatic
We are all made differently and react differently to a coronavirus infection. In recent months of studies and research, it has been discovered that a significant part of the population does not have symptoms and, therefore, is “asymptomatic”. In the period of maximum viral load, asymptomatic people can still be contagious, so it is important that those who have been in contact with people who have later discovered to be positive take as many precautions as possible.
I have a fever, cough, or other symptoms of COVID-19, what should I do?
As you should do with other health problems, if you have a fever or cough, it is good that you contact your GP, who can give you information and advice on what to do.
If the symptoms have been present for less than a day, the doctor may advise you to stay at home, possibly isolated from the rest of the cohabitants, and to wait to check the evolution of the situation. In the case of persistent symptoms, the GP will take the necessary steps to send a notification to ASL and arrange a swab test to verify the presence of the coronavirus.
Quarantine and isolation
The two terms are often used interchangeably, even if they mean two slightly different things. Isolation refers to the sick, quarantining the healthy who have been in close contact with the sick. There are also numerous intermediate nuances related, for example, to close contact with positive people, but who have not developed symptoms. Therefore, the contact tracing activity carried out by the health authorities is important for the correct definition of the different cases.
Isolation
Isolation refers to people who test positive for the coronavirus and must therefore be kept away from others to prevent new infections.
Quarantine
Quarantine, on the other hand, refers to healthy people exposed to a person who tested positive for the coronavirus (“close contact”). The exposed individual must pay special attention to the possible appearance of symptoms, which could indicate that they have suffered a contagion.
Positive buffer
In general, those who test positive on a swab must be isolated for a variable time depending on their condition.
Asymptomatic positives
They remain in solitary confinement for at least 10 days from the moment the test results are communicated to them. At the end of this period they must undergo a new swab: if it is negative they can end the isolation.
Positive with symptoms
They remain isolated for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms and should not have any in the last 3 days. At the end of this period they undergo a new swab: if it is negative, they interrupt the isolation. Therefore, it is necessary that at least 3 days have passed without symptoms (within the 10 isolation period) before the new swab can be performed.
Prolonged positivity
Several people have had no symptoms for at least a week, but remain positive for hyssop, which should lead to the end of their isolation. The new regulations introduced in October by the Ministry of Health establishes that in this case the isolation may be terminated if it has lasted at least 21 days from the onset of symptoms (provided that in the last 7 days there have been no symptoms ).
Close contact
There are many circumstances that lead to an individual being classified as a “close contact”, that is, a person who has had a high risk exposure with a probable or confirmed positive case.
It can be a close contact:
• Cohabitant of a positive case;
• those who have been face to face with a positive within 2 meters of distance, for at least 15 minutes and without wearing a mask;
• those who have been indoors for a long time with a positive and without wearing the mask;
• someone who has had direct physical contact with a positive, for example by shaking hands or coming into contact with its secretions, for example by touching a handkerchief to blow a used nose.
• Who among the health personnel does not use adequate individual protection measures.
Close contacts usually find out they are close before they develop symptoms, often when they receive communication from someone they knew who later found out to be positive. It is not certain that a close contact has become infected, but since many positive individuals remain asymptomatic, it is equally appropriate to take some precautions.
The asymptomatic (therefore healthy) close contact should remain in quarantine for 14 days from the time you had your last contact with the positive person, if the encounter occurred within 48 hours prior to the time the sample was taken . At the end of the two weeks, you should not take a swab, unless in the meantime no symptoms have appeared or the health authorities have asked you to undergo tests.
Alternatively, to shorten the quarantine time, the close contact can be smeared after ten days from the last contact with the positive case: if the test is negative, the quarantine ends immediately; if the tampon tests positive, the close contact becomes officially infected and therefore must undergo actual isolation.
Doubts
Procedures and case definitions may vary according to numerous circumstances, and also according to the regulations of the regions, which have the responsibility for much of the management of health care. This is why it is important to contact your GP if you have symptoms or concerns about exposure. You should communicate with your doctor by phone, avoiding going to his office that puts other patients at risk.
In addition, most regions have set up toll-free numbers for information and guidance on how to behave.
- Abruzzo 800 595 459
- Basilicata: 800 99 66 88
- Calabria: 800 76 76 76
- Campania: 800 90 96 99
- Emilia-Romagna: 800 033 033
- Friuli Venezia Giulia: 800 500 300
- Lazio: 800 11 88 00
- Liguria: 800938883
active from Monday to Friday, from 9 to 16 and Saturdays from 9 to 12 - Lombardy: 800 89 45 45
- Walking: 800 93 66 77
- Molise 0874 313000 and 0874 409000
- Piedmont: 800 19 20 20 active 24 hours a day
800333444 active from Monday to Friday, from 8 to 20 - Autonomous Province of Trento: 800867388
- Autonomous Province of Bolzano: 800 751 751
- Apulia: 800713931
- Sardinia: 800311377 (for health information) or 800894530 (civil protection)
- Sicily: 800 45 87 87
- Tuscany: 055 4385850
- Umbria: 800 63 63 63
- Aosta Valley: 800122121
- Veneto: 800 462 340
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