SYMPTOMS OF COVID

Covid-19

Covid-19 is a newly discovered virus which is highly infectious. Its first outbreak was in Wuhan, China. This virus came to be called: “coronavirus” or “Wuhan Coronavirus”. Sometimes this disease was referred to as “Wuhan pneumonia”, probably because it started in Wuhan and it has similar symptoms to pneumonia.

Outbreak

Covid-19 first outbreak was in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, China that was when it was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). By late January 2020, WHO announced Covid-19 as a global health emergency.

Causes

Covid-19 is caused by a novel coronavirus called: ‘severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-coV-2; previously called 2019-ncoV). Indeed this virus was recognized during a respiratory illness outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Spread

This virus is spread mainly through small droplets produced when an infected person(symptomatic or asymptomatic) coughs, sneezes or exhales. Therefore, persons within less than one meter of proximity from the infected person are at greater risk of inhaling the virus. Another means of contracting the virus is by touching contaminated surfaces. How? When an infected person produces droplets, they immediately fall on floors or surfaces because they are cumbersome. Thus, when people touch these contaminated surfaces, they contract this virus too.

Range of Covid-19 spread

: Like wide fire, Covid-19 has spread to many countries, about 219, with high death rates. Britain has emerged as the country with the highest death rate.

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

Just as our faces vary from person to person, so do the symptoms of Covid-19 vary from person to person, but generally, its symptoms include:
• Dry cough
• Fever
• Weakness /tiredness
• Other less serious symptoms include:
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Pains
• Headaches
• Conjunctivitis
• Loss of taste or smell
• discoloration of fingers or toes
Serious symptoms:
• Difficulty in breathing
• Loss of speech movement
• Chest pain
When a person is infected with COVID-19, it takes 5-6 days for the symptoms to manifest. Regardless, they take up to 14 days. When a person is infected, a flu-like symptom will appear between the 2nd to the 14th day, thus making the person contagious. That is why self-isolation for 14 days is advised to give time for the symptoms either to fully manifest or completely disappear.
There are still a few cases in which a person is infected yet does not manifest any of the above-listed symptoms, but this situation is also called “Asymptomatic. Asymptomatic carriers of the Covid-19 virus are also contagious. Though they do not manifest the symptoms, they carry the virus and thus can contaminate others. This characteristic has propelled the wild spread of Covid-19.
If a person has mild symptoms of Covid-19, it’s advised that the person stays at home and manages it. But if the symptoms are severe, the doctor should be contacted even before the arrival of the patient.
For a few patients, usually those 70 years of age and those with already existing health conditions, the symptoms may get worse and demand hospitalization.
To reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19, good hygiene and social distancing should be our watchword.