Symptoms of COVID-19
◉ What are the possible symptoms of COVID-19?
People infected with COVID-19 can experience a wide range of symptoms, ranging from no or mild symptoms to severe and even life-threatening manifestations.
The time between infection and the appearance of symptoms (incubation period) can vary from 2 to 14 days. In about 80% of people, COVID-19 causes only mild symptoms, although this may change as variants emerge.
Typically, people with COVID-19 report some of the following symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cough
- Muscle or body pain
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Headache
- Tired
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Diarrhea
◉ Gravity factors
According to US National Institutes of Health (NIH), patients with certain underlying comorbidities are at higher risk of progressing to a severe form of COVID-19. These comorbidities include:
- Age ≥ 65 years old
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic lung disease
- Diabetes
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Being pregnant
- Receiving a transplant or immunosuppressive treatment
Note : La plupart des personnes infectées par le SRAS-CoV-2 Most people infected with SARS-CoV-2 recover within a few weeks. But some people may have physical or psychological symptoms that last a long time afterwards. This is called the post-COVID-19 syndrome.
◉ Assessment of covid symptoms
Asymptomatic infection
People who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 using a virological test (PCR or an antigen test) but who have no symptoms or symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Mild disease
People who have any of the various signs and symptoms of COVID-19 but do not have shortness of breath, dyspnea, or abnormal chest imaging.
Moderate disease
Individuals who have evidence of lower airway disease on clinical evaluation or imaging and who have an oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≥ 94% in room air at sea level.
Serious illness
People with SpO2 < 94% in ambient air at sea level, a ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) < 300 mm Hg, respiratory rate > 30 breaths/min, or pulmonary infiltrates > 50%.
Critical situation
People with respiratory failure, septic shock and/or multiple organ dysfunction.
◉ When to Seek Emergency Medical Care
- Difficulty breathing.
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
- Confusion.
- Inability to wake or stay awake.
- Pale, gray or blue skin, lips or nail beds, depending on skin tone.
Note : Most people who contract COVID-19 recover within weeks. But some people may have physical or psychological symptoms that last a long time afterwards. This is called the post-COVID-19 syndrome.
