I used to be sure it was only a summer cold. One evening in late July, in the midst of a family vacation, I had developed a sore throat. The next morning, I had a headache and a runny nose. At the tip of the trip, I felt exhausted to the core, which didn’t fit with the week of rest by the ocean that I had just enjoyed.
I had a severe bout of COVID in 2022 – so bad that I needed chest x-rays and was prescribed a steroid and an inhaler – and this last illness didn’t feel nearly as bad. I had worn a mask on air travel and was up so far on my vaccinations. It wasn’t until my symptoms not only didn’t improve but actually got worse after nearly per week of taking over-the-counter cold remedies that I considered that it is likely to be COVID in any case.
A test at home confirmed that I used to be impressed by the Summer boost plaguing the country. (And mockingly, I wrote an article in regards to the growing wave of infections the identical week I tested positive.) But my recent diagnosis reinforced two COVID principles: testing is the one approach to distinguish between respiratory diseases like COVID, the fluThe A chillyAnd respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); and the symptoms of coronavirus may appear otherwise in the identical patient in the event that they are reinfected.
COVID symptoms could be mild, severe or non-existent, in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Remember that symptoms can occur as much as two weeks after exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.
New variants of the virus proceed to come back and go; the FLiRT class of omicron subvariants raged in the summertime, while a subvariant called XEC will dominate this fall. The CDC says symptoms can vary depending on the variant, but has not associated specific symptoms with a particular variant.
What are the symptoms of COVID?
While not an exhaustive listThe CDC urges the general public to look at for these symptoms:
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- fatigue
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Muscle or limb pain
- New lack of taste or smell
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath or difficulty respiration
- Sore throat
Over and beyond World Health Organization highlights these less common symptoms:
- Rash or discoloration of the fingers or toes
- Red or irritated eyes
Which COVID symptoms require emergency care?
The CDC recommends searching for immediate medical attention for those who experience the next symptoms:
- Inability to get up or stay up
- Lips, skin and nail beds that appear pale, blue or gray
- New confusion
- Persistent chest pain or pressure
- Breathing difficulties
How do I treat my COVID symptoms?
For mild symptoms, over-the-counter pain relievers similar to ibuprofen and acetaminophen may also help most individuals feel higher, the CDC says.
During prescription antiviral drugs like Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) or Lagevrio (molnupiravir) are aimed toward patients at high risk of severe infection, but that doesn’t suggest you are only eligible if you’ve a medical condition like cancer or HIV. For example, the CDC considers asthma, obese or obesity, or certain mood disorders as Risk aspects for severe COVID infection.
Once your COVID test is positive, discuss your treatment options along with your doctor.
More details about COVID-19:
