What Are the Symptoms of Covid-19?

Some of the most common symptoms include the following:

• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Coronavirus symptoms often appear within two to 14 days of exposure.

Less common symptoms of coronaviruse can include:

• Muscle aches
• Headaches
• Severe fatigue
• Sneezing
• Sore eyes
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Persistent cough
• Hoarse voice
• Difficulty sleeping
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Severe symptoms of COVID-19 can lead to significant complications; people who are experiencing the following symptoms should seek immediate emergency medical attention.

• Difficulty breathing at rest or being unable to speak full sentences
• Drowsiness or an inability to stay awake
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion
• Cold, clammy skin
• Pale or bluish skin or lips
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• Loss of movement or speech

Coronavirus can have different symptoms in different populations. As people age, they are at higher risk of developing severe complications, likely because older adults are more likely to have compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions. People over age 75 are nine times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to people ages 18 to 39. Children are just as likely to catch COVID-19 as adults but are less likely to develop a serious illness, but some children can experience serious complications that require hospitalization. In some cases, these complications may need to be placed on a breathing machine or ventilator. Some factors that can increase the risk of severe complications in children include being born premature, having a weakened immune system, having multiple chronic conditions, and having type 1 or 2 diabetes. Infants under age 1 are also at risk of severe symptoms.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are different for everyone, but they usually appear two to 14 days after infection. Symptoms may start as mild, but even mild symptoms should not be ignored. Treatment within the first few days can prevent disease progression and severe complications.

About four to six days after symptoms begin, they may worsen. Some people may lose their senses of taste or smell or develop a worsening cough. Complications can begin to appear after the first five days, so tracking symptoms during this time is essential.

Most people may improve after about a week after symptoms begin and completely recover after ten days. If your symptoms are worsening at this point, contact a medical professional.

Many symptoms of coronavirus overlap with those of colds, flu, and allergies, but there are important differences. Flu and coronavirus share symptoms like cough, fever, and body aches. The main difference between the two is that flu symptoms tend to develop faster than COVID-19 symptoms, as early as one day after exposure. One telltale sign that you may be dealing with coronavirus and not flu is if you lose your sense of smell or taste, but the only way to know for sure is to take a test.

Cold symptoms are also similar to flu and COVID-19 but are generally milder and do not last as long.

Allergies can also cause a runny nose and sneezing. If you have itchy eyes or ears or if your symptoms respond to allergy medication, you are likely experiencing an allergic response and are not contagious.

Long COVID [https://www.cdc.gov/covid/long-term-effects/index.html]is a chronic condition that can occur after a coronavirus infection and lasts for at least three months. Long COVID can have a wide range of symptoms that can worsen, improve, or continue over time. Long COVID is more common in people with severe coronavirus symptoms, but it can happen to anyone. In fact, some people can get long COVID without even knowing they had COVID in the first place. Women, Hispanic and Latino people, people with underlying health conditions, people 65 or older, or those who did not receive a vaccination against COVID-19 are more at risk for developing long COVID. Symptoms of long COVID can include the following:

• Brain fog
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Heart palpitations
• Rapid heartbeat
• Cough
• Dry mouth
• Chest pain or tightness
• Hair loss
• Sleep problems
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Skin rash

Take over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to manage symptoms of COVID-19 at home. Rest as much as possible, stay hydrated, and eat nutritious foods. If you experience difficulty breathing, experience contestant chest pain or pressure, have trouble staying awake or have bluish lips, skin, or nail beds, seek emergency medical attention.

Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms and start to improve within a week to ten days, but others may require medical attention. People over 50 or those who have compromised immune systems or underlying health issues should talk to their doctor as soon as symptoms appear. These conditions may make it more likely that they will experience severe symptoms or complications; starting medication early can help avoid this. Anyone who experiences trouble breathing, confusion, trouble waking up or staying awake, persistent chest pain, or pale or bluish skin, lips, or nail beds should seek emergency medical care.

You can get tests for coronavirus over-the-counter, through your healthcare provider, and at pharmacies.

When taking a test at home, read the instructions carefully to ensure you get the most accurate result. Most COVID-19 tests use a sample of saliva or a sample of mucous from your nose or throat. There are multiple types of tests, including molecular tests, antigen tests, and PCR tests. PCR tests are usually done by healthcare professionals and processed in a lab, so they are generally more accurate.

If you are symptomatic, test right away. To avoid spreading the virus, you should also test before a large event or contact with people who are at high risk of complications.

To prevent the spread of coronavirus, consider getting a vaccine. If you have coronavirus, stay home and avoid contact with others if you are symptomatic. You may need to isolate longer if you are immunocompromised. Talk to your doctor for guidance.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms and must be around other people, wearing a mask, social distancing, and frequent handwashing can help stop the spread. If your symptoms improve and you have not had a fever and have not taken a fever reducer in the last 24 hours, you can safely be around others, but you should always consult with a healthcare professional to be sure.

Research has found that COVID-19 infections affect mental health. Researchers found that many of those who survived coronavirus had fatigue, depression, anxiety, poor sleep quality, and PTSD a year after the infection. These symptoms were more likely for those who used alcohol, smoked, or had a history of chronic illness. If you have COVID-19, there are some things you can do to help manage the mental health impacts, including the following:

• Stay connected to friends and family through text, video chats, phone calls, and social media
• Stay hydrated and eat nutritious food
• Practice stress management techniques like meditation, mindfulness, and yoga
• Work with a therapist to manage significant stress and anxiety

Viruses like the SARS-CoV-2 mutate frequently to evade recognition by antibodies. Doing so usually makes them less able to bind to the cells they are targeting, but the newest FLiRT variants have approved the virus's ability to bind. Generally, COVID-19 mutations result in milder symptoms, likely because our immune systems have gotten better at fighting off the virus, but future mutations may lead to new or more severe symptoms, which is why staying up-to-date about emerging variants is important.

Coronavirus symptoms can mimic those of the flu, allergies, or the common cold. If you are experiencing symptoms, testing is the only way to know whether you have COVID-19. Although variants of this virus have generally led to milder forms of the disease, mutations can occur at any time that can lead to different or more severe symptoms. Wearing a mask, isolating when you are symptomatic, and getting vaccinated are the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releases new updates about COVID-19 every Monday and Friday on the COVID Data Tracker site.