What are the telling signs that you may have the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19?
The main symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here's what you need to know about possible symptoms:
FEVER
Average daily temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), but it goes up and down during the day. So 99.0 degrees or 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit is not a fever. Take your temp in the late afternoon and early evening.
COUGH
Coughing is another key symptom, but it's not just any cough that indicates possible COVID-19 infection. It should be a dry cough that you feel in your chest, which is bothersome, coming from the breastbone or sternum.
SHORTNESS OF BREATH
Shortness of breath can be a serious manifestation of COVID-19. It can occur on its own, without a cough. If your chest becomes tight or you begin to feel as if you cannot breathe deeply enough to get a good breath, that's a sign to act, experts say.
If the shortness of breath is severe enough, you should call 911.
CDC also lists emergency warning signs for COVID-19 as a “persistent pain or pressure in the chest”, “bluish lips or face” - which indicates a lack of oxygen - and any sudden mental confusion or lethargy and inability to rouse. Get medical attention immediately.
FLU/COLD SYMPTOMS
COVID-19 symptoms can resemble the flu, including headaches, digestive issues, body aches and fatigue, which can be severe. Other symptoms can resemble a cold or allergies, such as a runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. A possible sign you might have COVID-19 is if your symptoms, especially shortness of breath, don't improve after a week or so but actually worsen.
WHAT TO DO
The current guidance - and this may change - is that if you have symptoms that are similar to the cold and the flu and these are mild symptoms to moderate symptoms, stay at home and try to manage them with rest, hydration and the use of Tylenol. That advice does not apply if you are over age 60 or if you are pregnant. Anyone with concerns about coronavirus should call their healthcare provider, according to the CDC.
In general, COVID-19 infections are riskier if you have underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, chronic lung disease or asthma.
