{"id":1073,"date":"2020-06-03T02:49:43","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T02:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/?p=1073"},"modified":"2020-09-04T14:30:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-04T14:30:24","slug":"covid-19-signs-and-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/covid-19-signs-and-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Signs and Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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AHK Philippinen<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The past few months have seen the world change, literally.\u00a0\u00a0Global travel has come to a standstill, most forms of commerce have slowed down, some of the world\u2019s biggest corporations are posting losses instead of profits, and even the world\u2019s major economies have slumped.\u00a0\u00a0What is the cause of all these? A group of microscopic beings wreaking havoc on a lot of people\u2019s health, spreading quickly and causing disease in the human population, raising alarms and fear amongst many, and causing a global human mortality rate never before seen in recent decades:\u00a0\u00a0A Virus.\u00a0\u00a0More specifically, a Coronavirus.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What exactly is a Coronavirus?\u00a0\u00a0And is this totally new to the world?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Coronavirus is not a single kind of virus.\u00a0\u00a0Instead, it is a family of viruses, characterized by crown-like protrusions on their surface.\u00a0\u00a0These protrusions are actually protein receptors, and their appearance is the basis for the virus family\u2019s name:\u00a0\u00a0Coronavirus, a virus with a crown.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

First detected in the 1960s, there are hundreds of species in the Coronavirus family, some existing in humans, others in animals, others in both.\u00a0\u00a0Of the hundreds of known Coronaviruses, only six were known to cause disease in humans as of early 2019.\u00a0\u00a0Common amongst these six Coronaviruses was the fact that they had the potential of causing upper respiratory illnesses in humans, in varying severities.\u00a0\u00a0Four of these six viruses were known as Alpha Coronavirus 229E, Alpha Coronavirus NL63, Beta Coronavirus OC43, Beta Coronavirus HKU1, and were common infections world-wide, causing mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illnesses like the common cold.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In November 2002, a 5th<\/sup>\u00a0Coronavirus that could cause disease in humans was identified.\u00a0\u00a0This one caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS.\u00a0\u00a0The virus was hence named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome \u2013 Coronavirus, or SARS-CoV.\u00a0\u00a0This specific virus disappeared in 2004, hopefully due to eradication and not just because of hibernation.\u00a0\u00a0Another Coronavirus, now the 6th<\/sup>\u00a0species known to cause illness in humans, was detected in September 2012.\u00a0\u00a0This 6th<\/sup>\u00a0species is suspected to have originated from dromedary camels in the Middle East region, and the disease was thus named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, also a severe upper respiratory tract illness.\u00a0\u00a0The virus was named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome \u2013 Coronavirus, or MERS-CoV.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

However, since the first report of a pneumonia case of unknown cause in Wuhan, China, the world has now been introduced to a 7th<\/sup>\u00a0Coronavirus that causes disease in humans.\u00a0\u00a0First reported by the Chinese Government to the World Health Organization on 31 December 2019, the virus was first referred to in public media as \u201cnovel Coronavirus\u201d to indicate that the virus was newly detected, and therefore not much details were known about it.\u00a0\u00a0Over the course of the next month more and more cases of same characteristics were being reported in China, and with rapid contagion being reported and proven across geographic borders, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30th<\/sup>\u00a0January 2020, merely a month since the first case was officially reported from Wuhan, China, considered the virus\u2019 point of origin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On 11th<\/sup>\u00a0February 2020, the disease was officially named the Coronavirus Disease 19, or COVID-19, to denote that it was caused by what is now the 7th<\/sup>\u00a0human disease-causing Coronavirus, and the disease was first detected in 2019.\u00a0\u00a0The culprit:\u00a0\u00a0the virus now officially named the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On 11th<\/sup>\u00a0March 2020, with more and more cases being reported in more and more countries across the globe, it was clear that the virus was spreading fast and far, the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a Global Pandemic.\u00a0\u00a0With deaths due to COVID-19 reaching unprecedented rates, some countries shutdown borders, others declared their own communities under quarantine or lockdown.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It has been established that the seven Coronaviruses known to cause diseases in humans all cause upper respiratory tract illnesses in varying degrees of severity.\u00a0\u00a0However, of the seven there are three that cause severe respiratory illnesses like SARS, MERS, and now COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0This being the case, how do we differentiate if our signs and symptoms are COVID-19 or some other disease?\u00a0\u00a0While the disease is still new (or novel), there are already some established norms regarding what signs and symptoms are indicative of a possibility of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0Read on to learn the signs and symptoms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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1. Overall Feeling Of Being Unwell<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Medical News Today<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

An overall feeling of being unwell, or malaise, is typical of upper respiratory tract illnesses.\u00a0\u00a0Actually, malaise is a typical symptom of many illnesses, even those not caused by a Coronavirus, like flu, fever, and bacterial pneumonia.\u00a0\u00a0Thus, using this symptom as a lone indicator of COVID-19 is not realistic.\u00a0\u00a0It would be good to also check the other symptoms in this article to get a better idea if what you are suffering is COVID-19 or some other illness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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2. Fatigue<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Chicago Health Magazine<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fatigue, or the general feeling of being energy-depleted, worse than just tired, is another typical symptom for many different illnesses, especially those caused by an infection.\u00a0\u00a0A person with a viral or bacterial infection will have his or her immune system working on overdrive.\u00a0\u00a0This means most of one\u2019s energy supply will be spent fighting the virus or bacteria.\u00a0\u00a0Dealing with the infection, while at the same time trying to keep up with the normal daily tasks, will definitely exhaust one\u2019s energy stores, resulting in fatigue.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A person who is fatigued will often feel the need to rest, or will feel sleepy, even at times of the day when he or she would normally be wide awake.\u00a0\u00a0This is one of the body\u2019s ways of inducing healing. Sleep is the condition during which the body recharges its energy stores.\u00a0\u00a0It is during sleep that the body will most effectively do repairs on the damages to itself brought about by everyday wear and tear, and especially the damages brought about by illness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Since fatigue is a symptom common amongst many illnesses, this symptom is to be used only as an initial indicator, and not to be taken as a lone confirmatory indicator of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0Check for the other signs and symptoms listed in this article, to get a better idea if what you are suffering is COVID-19 or a different illness.\u00a0\u00a0Some cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection will not manifest any fatigue or malaise, or will even be completely asymptomatic (will not manifest any symptoms), and thus it is best to always practice safety measures to ensure nobody transmits bodily fluids to anyone else, and thereby reduce the possibility of viral transmission.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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3. Coughing<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Medical News Today<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For many of the confirmed cases of COVID-19, coughing was one of the first indicators of an upper respiratory tract illness taking effect on their body.\u00a0\u00a0According to the World Health Organization, or WHO, the cough associated with COVID-19 is particularly a dry cough.\u00a0\u00a0Unlike most cases of cough wherein the coughing is triggered by a buildup of phlegm clogging up the airways, and the coughing expels the phlegm, a dry cough is one where there is very little or almost no phlegm expelled, usually because the phlegm is too thick and dry.\u00a0\u00a0The trigger for a dry cough reflex is usually an itch or dryness in the throat, which by then is more sensitive than usual.\u00a0\u00a0This is one of the body\u2019s mechanisms to rid itself of pathogens (i.e. viruses and bacteria), including SARS-CoV-2, by coughing out the phlegm (regardless of the amount of phlegm expelled).\u00a0\u00a0The cough in COVID-19 cases usually starts out mild and if it progresses or worsens, it would usually do so gradually.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some confirmed COVID-19 cases were totally asymptomatic, which means they exhibited no symptoms of the disease.\u00a0\u00a0Some cases exhibited some symptoms, but did not even have a cough to begin with.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Take note that a cough on its own is not a clear indicator of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0There are several diseases that include coughing as one of their symptoms, so coughing could mean COVID-19 or it could mean something else.\u00a0\u00a0It would be advisable to check if, aside from the dry coughing, you have the other signs and symptoms listed in this article, to get a better picture of what you\u2019re dealing with when you check with a Medical Doctor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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4. Fever<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Healthline<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A fever is also one of the most common symptoms in COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0Actually, a fever is a typical indicator that the body is fighting off an infection, and it is one of the body\u2019s natural immune system mechanisms.\u00a0\u00a0Most pathogens either cannot thrive or cannot multiply in a hot environment.\u00a0\u00a0By raising the body\u2019s temperature, the body becomes an environment unconducive for the pathogens\u2019 existence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The usual human body temperature is 37\u00b0\u00a0Celsius (98.6\u00b0\u00a0Fahrenheit) or cooler.\u00a0\u00a0At 37.4\u00b0C (99.3\u00b0F) and hotter, it is a fever.\u00a0\u00a0It is considered a high-grade fever when it goes 39.4\u00b0C (102.9\u00b0F) and hotter.\u00a0\u00a0In the case of COVID-19, as of this writing, the observed trend is for fevers to start at the low-grades, 37.4\u00b0C to 39.3\u00b0C (102.7\u00b0F).\u00a0\u00a0If ever they get higher, the increase in fever temperatures progress gradually.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fever on its own is not conclusively indicative of COVID-19, but it is one of the common symptoms of the disease.\u00a0\u00a0Because it is a common symptom for many diseases, having a fever does not necessarily mean one has COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0Remember that other Coronaviruses and the common flu, even intestinal infections, all cause fevers, so it\u2019s not exclusive to COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0To get a better picture of what could possibly be causing your fever, check if your fever co-exists with the other signs and symptoms listed in this article.\u00a0\u00a0Even if the fever is not conclusively COVID-19-related, it is an indicator that there is something infecting your body, and that your immune system is getting taxed more than normal, or your immune system is down.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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5. Chills<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Healthline<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Chills are one of the symptoms that are often associated with fevers, and for good reason.\u00a0\u00a0Chill, or shivering, is one of the body\u2019s ways of increasing its core temperature.\u00a0\u00a0Increased core temperature?\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s basically the body inducing itself to have a fever.\u00a0\u00a0As mentioned earlier, a feverish body is an unconducive environment for a virus or bacteria.\u00a0\u00a0Thus, when the body is infected with SARS-CoV-2, the body will induce a series of muscular contractions to generate heat within itself.\u00a0\u00a0This series of muscular contractions is the shivering, or chill, that people with COVID-19 would experience, as the body tries to produce a fever that will make itself unconducive to the virus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Chills are not exclusive to COVID-19, so having chills will not mean you have the disease.\u00a0\u00a0It means you could have COVID-19, or you could have some other virus or bacteria, and the body is trying to produce the fever to fight the infection.\u00a0\u00a0It also means you need to be careful about extra exposure because your immune system is either busy fighting the current infection, it might not be able to handle another one, or your immune system is down, and so getting hit with another pathogen could make you sicker.\u00a0\u00a0Whichever it is, you will need to observe yourself (or whoever is the sick one) for the other signs and symptoms listed in this article, and you might have to check with a Medical Doctor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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6. Sore Throat<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Everyday Health<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Aside from a fever and a dry cough, another symptom that can sometimes manifest in COVID-19 is a sore throat.\u00a0\u00a0Coronaviruses in general, SARS-CoV-2 included, hit the upper respiratory tract, of which the throat would be a part.\u00a0\u00a0One of the body\u2019s typical immune system mechanisms against viruses and bacteria would be to produce more mucous to trap the pathogen (the virus or bacteria).\u00a0\u00a0In the case of the throat, the mucous would be the phlegm.\u00a0\u00a0Another typical immune system reaction is inflammation.\u00a0\u00a0With an inflamed throat plus more than usual amount of phlegm, you will have a sore throat.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sore throats do not always mean a phlegmatic cough.\u00a0\u00a0As has been mentioned earlier in the article, the more common cough identified with COVID-19 would be a dry cough.\u00a0\u00a0However, sore throats do have the potential to cause additional issues when they happen.\u00a0\u00a0Swallowing liquids and solids becomes more difficult when one has a sore throat, either because it\u2019s painful, or because the throat\u2019s sensitivity makes one prone to gag when swallowing.\u00a0\u00a0This makes it more difficult for one to hydrate and nourish, both very important parts of the healing process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As with a fever and a dry cough, a sore throat is not a conclusive lone indicator that one has COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0A sore throat along with the other symptoms listed in the article is a possible indicator of infection, possibly COVID-19, but also possibly something else.\u00a0\u00a0Use the sore throat combined with the other symptoms as a warning that you may have to get checked by a Medical Doctor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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7. Runny Nose<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Medical News Today<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A runny nose does not always manifest in COVID-19 cases, but it has appeared often enough amongst COVID-19 patients that it is officially considered as an indicator of the possible existence of the SARS-CoV-2.\u00a0\u00a0As mentioned previously in this article, one of the body\u2019s natural immune system reactions to a pathogen is to create more mucous, which includes those in the nose, which then results to a runny nose.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Unfortunately, the many causes of a runny nose are difficult to differentiate.\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes it\u2019s an allergic reaction that takes too long to go away, sometimes it would be a less serious pathogen.\u00a0\u00a0On its own, there is no way to ascertain if the runny nose is being caused by SARS-CoV-2.\u00a0\u00a0However, when considered along with other signs and symptoms of COVID-19, a runny nose is one of the warning signs that would make checking with a doctor a necessity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Take note that using medications for colds may make the runny nose stop, but it does not necessarily mean one has been cured or rid of the pathogen that caused the runny nose to begin with.\u00a0\u00a0Again, if the runny nose occurs with the other signs and symptoms in this article, it would be important to check with a Medical Doctor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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8. Nasal Congestion or Sinus Pressure<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Breathe Right<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The inflammation of the nasal passages, combined with the build-up of mucous in the nasal passages (the runny nose, remember), produces an actual nasal congestion, which feels like sinus pressure.\u00a0\u00a0This is one of the resultant symptoms of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0It is a symptom that can happen with any disease that causes you to have a runny nose, even those diseases not caused by Coronaviruses.\u00a0\u00a0Thus, there is no need to panic, but do take it as a warning sign that there is an infection that needs to get checked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Over-the-counter medications for colds will address the particular symptom of nasal congestion.\u00a0\u00a0However, the resolution of the nasal congestion does not mean that the virus that caused it has been eliminated.\u00a0\u00a0It is still a good idea to observe yourself (or the sick one in your care) for this symptom, and consider it along with the other symptoms in this article, so you would have a better picture to relay to your Medical Doctor when you do consult with one.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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9. Shortness of Breath and Other Respiratory Issues<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Hackensack Meridian Health<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, is a serious symptom of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0It is just as serious as when it occurs due to any other disease.\u00a0\u00a0COVID-19 can cause shortness of breath, but so can other diseases.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

One of the first challenges that the medical community encountered in detecting the SARS-CoV-2 is that it manifested itself in many symptoms that were similar with those of other diseases.\u00a0\u00a0Coronaviruses that affect humans, as already mentioned earlier, all generally affect the upper respiratory tract.\u00a0\u00a0That being said, many of the respiratory issues that were due to COVID-19 were misdiagnosed as being that of other diseases.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Just the same, it is now established that shortness of breath and\/ or respiratory issues are some of the symptoms that will result from COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0SARS-CoV-2 being the dominant spreader at this time, and therefore currently being the most cause for concern, patients with respiratory issues are being tested for COVID-19, although thankfully some are turning out to be infected with less serious pathogens.\u00a0\u00a0Because of the similarities with other diseases, respiratory issues are being used as an indicator of a possibility, not a confirmation, of having COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0The confirmation of the disease can be done only with laboratory testing of the patient\u2019s provided samples.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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10. Pneumonia<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Norton Healthcare<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Most Coronaviruses would make a person sick with mild to moderate respiratory issues.\u00a0\u00a0The SARS in 2002, and the MERS in 2012, caused more severe respiratory issues.\u00a0\u00a0Currently, COVID-19 is known to also cause more severe respiratory issues, similar to SARS and MERS.\u00a0\u00a0There have been a substantial number of cases wherein COVID-19 patients developed pneumonia, some of them even having died of it.\u00a0\u00a0Not surprisingly, many in the public would correlate pneumonia as automatically a symptom of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0However, what is becoming evident is that pneumonia is just a complication of COVID-19, not a direct symptom of it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, one or both of them, with the air sacs (aka alveoli) getting inflamed and often building up fluid which should not be there.\u00a0\u00a0The fluid is actually pus, and because it takes up the space that the air should be taking up, it makes breathing challenging, and sometimes almost impossible.\u00a0\u00a0This infection is a result of a compromised immune system, either because the immune system is down (as it would be if one has diabetes or AIDS), or because the immune system is preoccupied fighting another infection, like it would be if one were infected with SARS-CoV-2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Since COVID-19 starts out with mild symptoms, it is unlikely to go directly into full-blown pneumonia right away.\u00a0\u00a0When a person has pneumonia, breathing will be labored, inhaling will be difficult.\u00a0\u00a0This will require medical attention.\u00a0\u00a0If caught early, it can be an outpatient case.\u00a0\u00a0In more severe cases, it will require confinement.\u00a0\u00a0Just the same, whether outpatient or requiring confinement, it must first be checked by a Medical Doctor.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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11.\u00a0\u00a0Diarrhea<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Medical News Today<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

There are several diseases that are known to cause diarrhea, and it is turning out that COVID-19 is one of them.\u00a0\u00a0Diarrhea is officially listed by the World Health Organization as one of the less common symptoms of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Diarrhea would be when the bowel movement is more frequent than normal.\u00a0\u00a0The consistency of the feces (aka stool, aka poop) is more watery than solid.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sometimes, the diarrhea would be due to the irritation of the stomach due to the mucous getting into it from the nasal passages or the phlegm from the throat.\u00a0\u00a0With COVID-19 causing an increase in mucous production in the nose and throat, there is a possibility that the ingestion of these infected mucous causes the stomach irritation and thus the diarrhea.\u00a0\u00a0Another possible cause of the diarrhea is when there are viruses or bad bacteria that infect the stomach.\u00a0\u00a0With the body\u2019s immune system trying to fight off the SARS-CoV-2 that\u2019s causing the COVID-19, it might not have enough resources and energy to fight off the other pathogens in the stomach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If diarrhea is present along with the other symptoms listed in this article, consider getting checked by a Medical Doctor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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12.\u00a0\u00a0Headaches<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Harvard Health<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Headaches are a common symptom that there is a disease in the body, regardless of the cause.\u00a0\u00a0Even common colds sometimes come with headaches.\u00a0\u00a0So does the more serious common flu.\u00a0\u00a0Coronaviruses in general, the SARS-CoV-2 in particular, can cause headaches along with the nasal congestion, and sometimes along with the fever, or both.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It is a known fact that sometimes a headache will occur even without a fever or nasal congestion, and yet for some unexplained reason the head hurts.\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes an elevated blood pressure causes it, sometimes it\u2019s because of eye-strain, or it could even be a stroke.\u00a0\u00a0Regardless of the cause, a headache is an indicator that there is something wrong.\u00a0\u00a0COVID-19 is a possibility, but this can be confirmed only by laboratory tests.\u00a0\u00a0If headaches occur along with the other symptoms in this article, consider getting checked by a Medical Doctor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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13.\u00a0\u00a0Muscle and Joint Aches<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Health Magazine<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As with any disease that can cause fevers and general malaise, muscle and joint aches can occur.\u00a0\u00a0The World Health Organization lists this as a less common symptom of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0The muscle and joint aches are either due to inflammation or due to the stress of shivering mentioned earlier in the article.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Muscle and joint aches are not conclusive indicators of COVID-19, but they are possible indicators.\u00a0\u00a0These aches are symptoms to be observed and considered along with the other symptoms in this article.\u00a0\u00a0If these aches exist along with the other symptoms, consider consulting a Medical Doctor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

14.\u00a0\u00a0Inexplicable Loss of Taste or Smell<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\"\"\r\n
ABC<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

COVID-19 has been correlated to the inexplicable loss of taste or smell.\u00a0\u00a0While this particular symptom cannot yet be explained, it is observable.\u00a0\u00a0Its occurrence is not rampant, but it has been observed to be consistent in a substantial portion of the confirmed COVID-19 cases.\u00a0\u00a0The World Health Organization lists this symptom as a less common, but still occurring, symptom of COVID-19.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A loss of taste or smell is a symptom that occurs in several other diseases, and as mentioned earlier, this symptom is not always present in COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0Thus, losing your sense of taste or smell will not necessarily mean one is infected with SARS-CoV-2, but it is indicative that something is amiss.\u00a0\u00a0A consultation with a Medical Doctor would be in order.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

15.\u00a0\u00a0Rash on Skin and\/ or Discoloration of Fingers or Toes<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\"\"\r\n
Prevention<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Like the inexplicable loss of taste or smell, the rash on the skin is one of the less common symptoms of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0Because Coronaviruses are associated with respiratory effects, many overlook that this disease can also manifest as a skin rash.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Pediatricians have also noticed that children who were infected by SARS-CoV-2, though not exhibiting respiratory symptoms, would sometimes have inflammation in the blood vessels of their hands and feet.\u00a0\u00a0These would manifest as purplish-red papules (raised area of skin tissue) on the fingers and\/or toes of the children.\u00a0\u00a0The condition, technically referred to as \u201cpernio\u201d (a term originally related to frostbite), has been nicknamed \u201cCovid Toes\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Some of the patients who have it complained that Covid Toes are painful.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rashes on the skin, as well as pernio, could have causes other than COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0As such, it is important to check for other symptoms to get a better picture of the disease that is ailing you or someone you are caring for.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

16.\u00a0\u00a0Chest Pain or Pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\"\"\r\n
American Heart Association<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Chest pain or pressure is considered a serious symptom, regardless of the cause.\u00a0\u00a0This symptom is often correlated to heart issues, and rightly so, because heart attacks and cardiac arrests sometimes manifest as chest pain or pressure.\u00a0\u00a0However, respiratory issues, like pneumonia, have also been known to cause pain in the chest.\u00a0\u00a0COVID-19 can cause respiratory issues, progress to pneumonia, and thus can indeed manifest as chest pain or pressure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Because chest pain or pressure is a possible indicator respiratory issues, as well as cardiac issues (e.g. heart attack or cardiac arrest), this symptom needs to be taken seriously.\u00a0\u00a0When chest pain or pressure is experienced, it would be important to get checked by a Medical Doctor immediately.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

17. When To Get Checked By A Doctor<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
\"\"\r\n
NPR<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It used to be that anytime you felt you were sick, going to a Medical Doctor was the thing to do.\u00a0\u00a0It seemed the logical and automatic option for some.\u00a0\u00a0However, 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.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

With that in mind, it is advisable to observe and consider your signs and symptoms, like those listed in this article.\u00a0\u00a0Remember that the signs and symptoms for COVID-19 are not exclusive to COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0The signs and symptoms in this article, occurring singularly, would not be confirmatory of COVID-19.\u00a0\u00a0Observe them keenly.\u00a0\u00a0If these symptoms occur in combination, if they persist, or if they progress, call your Doctor and consult your symptoms with him or her.\u00a0\u00a0If 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.\u00a0\u00a0As of this writing, a laboratory test is the only method known to confirm if what you are sick with is COVID-19, or not.\u00a0\u00a0Hopefully not.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The past few months have seen the world change, literally.\u00a0\u00a0Global travel has come to a standstill, most forms of commerce have slowed down, some of the world\u2019s biggest corporations are posting losses instead of profits, and even the world\u2019s major economies have slumped.\u00a0\u00a0What is the cause of all these? A group of microscopic beings wreaking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1075,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[152,151,16,13,14],"yoast_head":"\nCOVID-19 Signs and Symptoms<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Coronavirus is not a single kind of virus.\u00a0\u00a0Instead, it is a family of viruses, characterized by crown-like protrusions on their surface.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/covid-19-signs-and-symptoms\/\" \/>\n<link rel=\"next\" href=\"https:\/\/healthnewscentral.com\/covid-19-signs-and-symptoms\/2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"COVID-19 Signs and Symptoms\" \/>\n<meta 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