- Coronavirus patients have reported a variety of COVID-19 symptoms since the disease first originated in China, but the symptoms alone are not good enough for a clinical diagnosis.
- While a PCR test is needed to confirm a COVID-19 infection, a combination of four symptoms may indicate coronavirus infection.
- The New York Times set up an infographic that presents all possible COVID-19 related symptoms, including the most common and rare.
The new coronavirus is a small spec of invisible genetic material that resides in a capsule with spike proteins on the outside, giving it a crown-like appearance. Hence the generic name of this family of viruses – “corona.” But the virus is incredibly vicious and it is able to spread secrets within large groups of people who do not take the necessary precautions. We say “secret” because the symptoms can take weeks to develop if they even appear completely. And when the signs of infection finally appear, they are not enough to confirm the COVID-19. Therefore, testing is necessary to determine the presence of the virus.
There is one fairly unique symptom that indicates a COVID-19 infection, and that is the sudden loss of smell and taste. The problem is that not all people experience it. Now, a new report says that the combination of four symptoms may be highly indicative of COVID-19. Even then, a PCR test is still required to confirm the diagnosis.
A beautifully made The New York Times infographic goes through all the known symptoms, accounting for various investigations into the matter. The report looks at all the symptoms that COVID-19 patients may experience, which have been cataloged by various public health authorities such as the CDC and the WHO. It also explains how each symptom presents in both adults and children.
The Times notes that fever, loss of taste like smoke, a dry cough, and fatigue are severe among COVID-19 patients. These signs may appear over the course of several days, much more slowly than the flu. We have been comparing COVID-19 with the flu since the early days of the disease when this new infectious disease seemed to be just as influential. But as days changed into weeks and months, we all learned that the new coronavirus is no different from the flu. It is not only the onset of symptoms but also the complications that can occur in severe COVID-19 cases. Mortality is also much higher than the flu.
The report also lists several other COVID-19 symptoms that are less specific to this particular disease, including headache, dizziness or limited thinking, eye discomfort, congestion or runny nose, sore throat, wet cough, severe shortness of breath. rest, tightness in the chest, feeling out of breath with activity, rash, diarrhea and abdominal pain, blisters on toes and fingers, severe muscle and joint pain, chills and pain in the body, and blood clots.
The whole thing The time report is worth going through because it gives a complete overview of symptoms about anatomical images of the human body. That way, it can be easier to understand the complexity of the virus and the way the whole body can attack, and not just the lungs. The interactive report also comes with a variety of useful links to existing research on the various symptoms of COVID-19.
As a reminder, be sure to check the CDC’s official list of COVID-19 symptoms so you know what kind of signs are associated with the new disease. Always consult your doctor if you think you may be infected.
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