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.

Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

Differentiate coronavirus symptoms

The coronavirus symptoms are similar to the ones of the common cold and flu. However, there are more than 1,033,478 cases confirmed, therefore, coronavirus is extremely dangerous.

The symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. The most common coronavirus symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Moreover, it can be accompanied with tiredness, aches and pains, headaches and sore throat. Runny nose and sinus congestion are very uncommon in COVID-19.

However, if you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency signs include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, bluish lips or face.

On the other hand, typical symptoms of the common cold include sneezing, runny and stuffy nose. There are also, sore throat, coughing, post-nasal drip and watery eyes. Fever usually does not occur.

Symptoms of a cold usually appear anywhere from two to three days after you contract it.

Seasonal influenza (flu) is still active and generally coms on fast and furious. It is a common respiratory infection caused by a virus that affects your nose, throat, lungs and can last from 5 to 7 days.

Typical symptoms include fever and/or chills, usually dry cough, fatigue. Also, aches and pain, headache, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children tan adults).

Preventive measures

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

Namely, the virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person between people who are in close contact with one another and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with coronavirus.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water often, for at least 20 seconds and use hand sanitizers. Also, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw away the used tissue, do not touch your face.

Additionally, avoid contact with people who are sick, put distance between yourself and other people. Also, stay at home, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, handles, desks, phones, etc.

As we all know, the coronavirus spreads very fast, so the most important thing to do for self – protection is to avoid public gatherings and wash your hands whenever you get in touch with an outside surface.

First, it is very important to recognize the difference between COVID-19 and common allergies at this time of the year.

Allergies are chronic while the coronavirus is an acute sickness, in other words, the infected will feel completely fine until the symptoms start showing up.

Symptoms of COVID-19

According to the World Health Organization, the symptoms of COVID-19 are in most cases:

• Fever showing up as the first symptom
• Dry cough that is following
• Tiredness and pain
• Shortage of breath that usually occurs 5 – 10 days after the fever starts

In case you have a high fever, it does not necessarily mean that you have this virus.

It could also be another acute illness, the seasonal flu which also starts with a fever and bodily pain.

The difference between the symptoms of this virus and seasonal flu is that the flu does not come with a shortage of breath later on, so that is the easiest way to recognize the difference.

It could also be a regular cold since the symptoms for these three illnesses are quite similar.

The difference between the coronavirus and allergies is clear since the allergy is chronic and starts showing up symptoms for a longer period with symptoms periodically returning.

Moreover, allergies come with no cough and with sneezing while this was not thought of as a symptom of coronavirus.

Studies have shown that coronavirus only shows sneezing and nasal issues on about 6% of the patients.

While the coronavirus has some similarities to regular cold, the cold starts showing up symptoms like runny nose that are not the symptoms of the coronavirus.

On the other hand, this virus has more similarities to seasonal flu, while it is almost impossible in some cases to figure out the difference.

The influenza is to be feared as a stage of the coronavirus since that is the reason for the most coronavirus deaths until now.

In these times, it is crucial to remain responsible for your and the lives of others around you and to pay maximum attention to reducing the possibility of the virus further spreading.