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COVID-19 is a respiratory illness brought on by a Symptoms for coronavirus. Some folks are infected but do not notice any signs. The majority of people will have mild symptoms and get better by themselves. But about 1 in 6 will have severe problems, such as trouble breathing. The odds of more serious symptoms are higher if you’re older or have some other health condition like diabetes or heart disease.
Here is what to search for if you believe that may have COVID-19.
people with COVID-19 have had a broad range of symptoms reported — ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms for coronavirus may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone may have mild to severe symptoms.
There are many symptoms of cold, influenza, and COVID which are alike, and it could be tricky to differentiate,” additional Ramzi Yacoub, PharmD, chief pharmacy officer of this prescription savings service SingleCare. “They’re all caused by viruses, but various viruses cause each of these illnesses.”
“But, one crucial difference between the three is a symptom of coronavirus is shortness of breath,” Yacoub advised Healthline. “Shortness of breath is a frequent sign of COVID-19 which happens before the development of pneumonia. Normally, the flu or a cold doesn’t result in shortness of breath unless it’s progressed to pneumonia, in which case you’ll also want to speak to your physician.”
Dr. Subinoy Das, chief medical officer at Tivic Health, stated the common cold rarely causes shortness of breath after fever develops.
“Influenza does mimic COVID-19 really closely, but the shortness of breath isn’t usually as intense as it’s with COVID-19,” Das told Healthline.
With COVID-19, shortness of breath frequently happens 5 to 10 days after the first symptom of fever, Das said.
Health officials are expressing concerns about fresh versions of the novel coronavirus. Thus far, there are 3 main new strains. They originated in the Uk, Brazil, and South Africa.
The new versions appear to be more contagious, but so far there have been no reports that the versions cause different symptoms.
Sneezing isn’t a symptoms for Coronavirus
- Fever or chills – 90%
- Cough – 59%
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing – 31%
- Fatigue – 70%
- Muscle or body aches – 35%
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell – 40%
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
However,”Some people become infected but do not develop any symptoms and do not feel unwell,” according to the WHO.
These people may still transmit the virus to those around them, even if they don’t feel sick.
Allergies have chronic symptoms
COVID-19, like the flu or common cold, is an acute illness, meaning individuals feel fine until symptoms start showing up.
Allergies, on the flip side,”are usually chronic, presenting with symptoms off and on for weeks, months, or even years,” Dr. David M. Cutler, family medicine physician in Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, told Healthline.
Experts also noted that, in most parts of the nation, it’s not allergy season yet.
“Allergies should not lead to a fever or body aches,” Arthur explained. “Generally, [there is] no cough unless you’ve got a lot of nasal drainage.”
Allergies also may trigger wheezing, she added, particularly in people with asthma.
“Allergy symptoms often change with the environment: worsening with exposure to dust, pollen, or animal dander, whereas cold symptoms tend to persist regardless of time of day, climate, area, or other environmental elements,” Cutler said.
Also, as with COVID-19,”Colds are more likely to have generalized symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, whereas allergies generally affect only the respiratory tract,” Cutler said. “Allergy symptoms tend to improve with antihistamine and other allergy-specific drugs. Colds are more likely to respond to decongestants, acetaminophen, fluids, and rest.”
With a few schools reopening, the CDC issued new guidelines in mid-August on the differences in symptoms between COVID-19 and seasonal allergies.
The agency noted that things such as shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, headache, and sore throat may be symptoms of COVID-19 or allergies.
Itchy eyes and coughing are usually only symptoms of allergies.
Fever, muscle aches, a reduction of smell or taste, nausea, and diarrhea are associated with COVID-19 and not allergies.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention symptoms for Coronavirus
Call a doctor or hospital right away if you have one or more of Those COVID-19 symptoms:
Trouble breathing
Constant pain or pressure in your chest
Bluish lips or face
Sudden confusion
You need medical attention whenever possible. Call your doctor’s office or hospital prior to going in. This will help them prepare to deal with you and protect medical staff and other patients.
Strokes also have been reported in certain people who’ve COVID-19. Recall FAST:
Face: Is one side of the individual’s face numb or drooping? Is their grin lopsided?
Arms: Is one arm weak or numb? If they attempt to lift both arms, does one arm sag?
Speech: Can they talk clearly? Ask them to repeat a sentence.
Time. Every moment counts when someone shows signs of a stroke. Call 911 right away.
Many drugs are considered for treatment of COVID-19: a few are monoclonal antibodies which have been granted emergency use authorizations. Only remdesivir (Veklury), an IV antiviral drug has been approved by the FDA, and it is only approved for use in hospitalized patients.
Despite symptoms, it’s not the flu
COVID-19 isn’t the flu.
As among a class of pathogens known as coronaviruses, it is actually more closely related to the frequent cold than the seasonal flu.
However, despite some overlap, the normal symptoms of COVID-19 are more like the influenza (fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body or muscle aches, headaches, fatigue) than the frequent cold (runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, congestion, slight body aches, mild headache, sneezing, low-grade fever, malaise).
“In terms of differentiating between influenza and COVID-19, it may be nearly impossible to distinguish,” Dr. Jake Deutsch, co-founder and clinical manager of Cure Urgent Care facilities and Specialty Infusion in New York. “That is why people are suggested to have flu vaccinations so that it could at least… decrease the probability of flu in light of everything else. Fevers, body aches, coughing, sneezing can be equally credited to them both, so it really means that if there is a concern for influenza, there’s a concern for COVID-19.”
If you have a mild case of COVID-19, the flu, or a cold, treatment is geared toward direction of symptoms, ” said Cutler.
“Ordinarily, acetaminophen is recommended for fevers,” he said. “Cough drops and cough syrups can also maintain mucus secretions thinner. When there is related nasal congestion, antihistamines can be helpful.”
Difference between COVID-19 & Flu
Influenza (Flu) and also COVID-19 are both infectious respiratory disorders, but they are brought on by various viruses. COVID-19 is brought on by infection with a new coronavirus (known as SARS-CoV-2), and influenza is caused by infection with flu viruses.
COVID-19 seems to spread more readily than influenza and causes more serious illnesses in certain individuals. In addition, it can take longer before individuals show symptoms and people can be infectious for longer. More information about differences between influenza and COVID-19 is offered from the different sections below.
Because some of the symptoms of influenza and COVID-19 are alike, it might be hard to discern the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing might be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.
While more is discovered daily about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it, there’s still a lot that is unknown. This page compares COVID-19 and influenza, provided the best available information to date.
