As more cases of the new coronavirus are diagnosed throughout the US, many people are wondering how they can prepare, what it is like to have it and how long does coronavirus last.
Symptoms
The virus can be especially risky for the elderly and immunocompromised. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how to prevent the spread of the virus and how to identify it.
The upper respiratory virus may present mildly, similar to a cold, or severely, like a really bad flu, depending on the person infected.
Furthermore, it can be difficult to tell the difference between new coronavirus symptoms and the seasonal flu. The main symptoms are cough and shortness of breath.
With a severe case of COVID-19, a person may experience weakness, lethargy, and fever for a prolonged period of time.
However, in some cases, a person might asymptomatic but could still test positive if they have been exposed to it.
Scientists discovered recently that people also lose their taste and smell once they get coronavirus.
Moreover, new evidence suggests that people diagnosed with COVID-19 are starting to develop rashes on the skin.
In contrast, having a rash does not mean you are infected as rashes can be caused by any number of physical ailments
If you are showing some of these symptoms and think you have been exposed or in contact with someone with the virus, call your doctor.
How long does coronavirus last?
If you contract the virus, symptoms may appear anywhere between two and 14 days after you contracted it. Estimates suggest COVID-19 symptoms tend to appear around five days after exposure.
If someone is under observation, it needs to pass at last 14 days so the doctors can tell if that person has coronavirus.
How long does coronavirus last depends on the severity of the case. With more mild cases people tend to get better on their own in 10 to 14 days.
In severe cases, the virus may travel to the lungs and cause pneumonia, and the symptoms may last longer.
These individuals are usually hospitalized and treated aggressively and symptomatically until symptoms resolve.
Officially clearing someone with this type of coronavirus depends on the person and the severity of the case.
Their symptoms must improve, their temperature must be normal without a fever reducer. Additionally, they must have four COVID-19 tests completed to show a person has recovered from the virus.