Health

COVID-19 Signs and Symptoms

17. When To Get Checked By A Doctor

NPR

It used to be that anytime you felt you were sick, going to a Medical Doctor was the thing to do.  It seemed the logical and automatic option for some.  However, with hospital-borne infection (catching a bug when exposed in the hospital) being a high risk and very valid concern during an epidemic (or in this case, a pandemic), there are now more doctors advising their patients to first do a virtual consult before going to the hospital or the medical clinic.  

With that in mind, it is advisable to observe and consider your signs and symptoms, like those listed in this article.  Remember that the signs and symptoms for COVID-19 are not exclusive to COVID-19.  The signs and symptoms in this article, occurring singularly, would not be confirmatory of COVID-19.  Observe them keenly.  If these symptoms occur in combination, if they persist, or if they progress, call your Doctor and consult your symptoms with him or her.  If the symptoms you describe, as well as the exposure history you provide add up to the possibility of COVID-19, your Doctor will prescribe a test particularly to detect the SARS-CoV-2.  As of this writing, a laboratory test is the only method known to confirm if what you are sick with is COVID-19, or not.  Hopefully not.