Covid-19 Symptoms, Prevention, Treatment, and More

Covid-19 Symptoms

Coronavirus, the term itself causes trepidation. The pandemic has changed the scenario of the world entirely. The outbreak has brought all of us to a standstill. Over 585,000 people are victims of this life-threatening malady. Alarming numbers of death has made humans petrified of even saying hello to a person standing before them. Coronavirus has left its impact on the socio-economic, political and also cultural sides globally. The acceleration of coronavirus (Covid-19) is rapid and needs to be terminated as possible. Know the Covid-19 symptoms and preventive measures to do your bit for the welfare of yourself and society.

Do You Know What is Coronavirus?

Covid – 19 is a kind of virus similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The recently uncovered disease is a highly contagious virus, and the syndrome is called ‘Covid-19’ or formally ‘2019 novel coronavirus’.

The term corona has been named because of the shape of the virus looks like a crown with protuberances around it. Covid-19 symptoms are like a common flu with acute respiratory ailments or wheezing. People with an adequate amount of immunity may recover from this disease. However, older people or patients who have past medical histories like diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory syndrome or cardiovascular diseases can develop an acute illness and can become fatal.

How different is Covid-19 from MERS?

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is also a viral disease, which originated in Saudi Arabia. It has similar symptoms to Covid-19 as they fall under the family of coronaviruses. The emergence took place in 2012 and spread to over 27 countries, affecting around 2400 people and approximately 800 to be the fatality number.  The spread of MERS has been limited to fewer countries unlike Covid-19 which has spread very rapid globally.

How different is SARS from Covid-19?

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is also a viral disease. The outbreak of SARS took place in 2003 which started in China. Covid-19 is also similar to SARS as they are of the same progeny. The effects of Covid-19 are more advanced and far-reaching.

From where did this new coronavirus (Covid-19) come?

The genesis of the coronavirus pandemic took place in Wuhan, a popular city in Central China during December 2019. World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and many health organizations are still trailing down the exact source of Covid-19 and monitoring it globally.

How do you get this Coronavirus (Covid-19)?

The spread of Covid-19 predominantly propagates by the splashes of saliva or from nasal discharge of an infected person. The occurrence can take place while coughing or sneezing.

Is Covid-19 fatal disease?

The fatality of Covid-19 is over 22,000 and still counting, worldwide. Although, about 1,32,000 people have recovered and the other victims have been kept quarantined for treatment.

Covid-19 symptoms

The Covid-19 virus can affect various people in several different ways and it differs from mild to being moderate. Many people can recover naturally but the cases are fewer in number. Reportedly, the corona effect has high impact on human lives. Let us see what the Covid-19 symptoms are:

  • Fever
  • Dry Cough
  • Running Nose
  • Fatigue

These are some common Covid-19 symptoms. A few other symptoms of this coronavirus are:

  • Dyspnea or Breathlessness
  • Sore Throat
  • Muscle Ache
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea

The Covid-19 symptoms are common for a flu but has adverse effect which has moved the entire world. It has caused a worldwide lockdown and global crisis now. Check the chart below to know all the probable symptoms:

Covid-19 Symptoms

If you are facing Covid-19 symptoms, immediately call the doctor or any emergency faculty. Doctors will examine the possibility to have the new coronavirus and refer you to the Covid-19 test. But prior to that, the doctor will safeguard himself with gloves, protective clothing, and a face shield.

Since Covid-19 is infectious and can have adverse effects on anyone you come in contact with. The doctor questions your travel history and your daily whereabouts. The public health authorities are also informed.

The test of the new coronavirus is done by swabbing in the nose of the affected person. The samples are dispatched to the laboratory for confirmation. Specimens are tested to confirm the presence of coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

Preventive measures for Covid-19

Follow the preventive measures given below to block or slow down the transmission of Covid-19:

Prevent close contact with anyone

It’s extremely crucial to understand that Covid-19 is transmitted from one person to another. If anyone who is infected sneezes or coughs, the discharges can infect the person or even people around. Practicing etiquettes like using a flexed elbow to cough, is essential for anyone. Few of the other measures to take evasion actions are:

  • Minimize the frequencies of stepping out of the house or even inviting visitors
  • Maintain a distance of six feet from anyone in public places
  • Implementation of Social Distancing
  • Try to work from home as much as possible
  • Use video calls to connect to your family, friends or even work
  • Visiting the grocery store often should be barred during the pandemic
  • Try not to come in contact with anyone who might be sick
  • People who are not victims of the corona effect do not need to wear a mask. Unless if you are taking care of someone who might be affected by Covid-19

Maintain proper hygiene outdoor and at home

Covid-19 viruses persists on surfaces for hours and even days. Touching your face after you touch a contaminated surface is a way you can infect yourself. The virus is not discernible after 72hours on plastic and 48hours on cardboard or stainless steel. In that light, regular washing of hands with soap for minimum 20 seconds is essential. Especially when:

  • You have been to public places, touching door handles, elevator buttons, shopping carts
  • Use the washroom
  • You start cooking
  • Have unclean hands, do not touch or face or mouth
  • You sneeze or cough. While using a tissue, throw it immediately after use

Note that, you can also use a hand sanitizer which has 60% alcohol content if you do not have access to soap.

Incubation Period or Quarantine

It is extremely essential to be adequately informed about the new coronavirus (Covid-19). To prevent yourself and your family or even anyone you meet from the infection, you have to be aware of Covid-19 symptoms. (https://iheartrving.com/)

Apparently, it has been studied that symptoms appear with a period of 14days. Anyone who has mild symptoms should self-isolate or quarantine themselves. This quarantine period is very essential to stop the spread of Covid-19. Immediate medical attention should be given if the symptoms seem to intensify along with breathlessness. Since this virus is new and could not be initially detected, it has spread drastically. An umpteen number of people around the world have become victims to Covid-19. This has become a global phenomenon. The governments all over the world have put a lockdown and everyone in quarantine to stop the further spread of Covid-19.

Precautions to take while living or caring for someone with Covid-19 symptoms
  • Always wear a mask while attending anyone facing respiratory problems
  • Disinfect doorknobs, tablets, phones counters etc., frequently with wipes or cleaners
  • Use an alcohol-based sanitizer or wash your hands with soap thoroughly
  • Distant yourself from anyone who is coughing or sneezing for at least 1 meter
  • Minimize touching your face frequently.
  • Avoid unnecessary traveling and stay away from a large group of people.

Feeling sick? Stay at Home

If you are unwell, stay at home to curb the spreading of Covid-19 and follow the guidelines given below if you face severe symptoms:

  • If you are facing severe breathlessness or even very high fever call the medical emergency
  • Brief your symptoms over the call
  • Wear a mask before you leave the house for medical care, to not transmit the virus to anyone

Covid-19 Treatment

The coronavirus symptoms tend to go away by itself. If you are facing mild symptoms like a flu or cold, adequate amount of fluids and rest is required. Refrain from smoking and other activities that might weaken your lungs. Avoid going out or coming into close contact with anyone while your sick.  If the Covid-19 symptoms intensify itself, seek for medical help.

Covid-19 has no specified vaccination or treatment yet. Antibiotics are ineffective to this coronavirus as it is a virus and not a bacterium. Treatment is performed asymptomatically and oxygen therapy seems to be the major treatment intercession for patients having severe ailments. In cases of respiratory failure refractory, mechanical ventilator is provided as oxygen therapy. Also, to control septic shock, hemodynamic support is provided. Further, to reduce fever medication is given and to avoid dehydration plenty of fluids are supplied.

What is done to discover an effective treatment for Covid-19?

Across the globe, scientists are investigating on specified treatment options and vaccines. There have been a few pieces of evidence that several medicines may have the potential possibility to act effectively in treating and preventing Covid-19 symptoms. Although, it may take weeks or even longer for researchers to find any specific potential treatment.

Here are some ways doctors used for treating SARs. The following might work for coronavirus as well:

Chloroquine

A drug called Chloroquine has been used for malaria and other autoimmune diseases. This drug is used for over 70years is declared to be safe.

In cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) studies have been done in laboratories by researchers. The drug has shown effectiveness to fight against it.

A minimum of at least 10 medical researches are looking at chloroquine to be of potential use and a possibility to fight against Covid-19.

Remdesivir

A fundamentally designed drug called Remdesivir, was experimented to originally to treat Ebola. This experimentation proved to be a wide spectrum of antiviral medicine.

Remedesivir has been tested by researchers which have shown high effectiveness on isolated coronavirus cells.

Although, this has not been approved on humans till now. But this drug has been used in two cases for clinical trials in China. FDA has approved one clinical trial of the drug Remdesivir to be positive in the United States also.

Ritonavir & Lopinavir

Ritonavir and Lopinavir, both are sold by the name Kaletra. These were designed to treat HIV/AIDS.

A 54-year-old man in South Korea was given these two drugs as a combination. Apparently, it has shown distinct reduction in the levels of his coronavirus cells.

World Health Organization (WHO) has considered Kaletra to be beneficial with combining other drugs to treat Covid-19.

Favilavir

Favilavir, was originally developed to cure inflammation occurred in the throat and nose. This drug has been approved by China as an antiviral treatment for Covid-19 symptoms. However, the studies have not been disclosed till now. As a clinical trial, the drug has shown effectiveness to treat 70people having Covid-19 symptoms.

APN01

APNo1 was first developed by scientists in the early 2000s. The protein called ACE2 is involved in SARS infections which protected the lungs from an injury that was caused by respiratory distress. To examine the potentiality of the drug, APNO1 to fight against Covid-19 is going to start in China, as a clinical trial.

The medicinal trial will be done upon 24 patients for a week. Half of the patients will be given APNo1 drug and half will be given an alternative treatment. This clinical trial will be done on a large scale, provided it shows encouraging results.

Final thoughts

The emergence of evidence in some medications has already proved to have potentiality in treating Covid-19. To determine the treatments to be safe many more wide-scale testing needs to be performed. Several months could pass by for these drugs to be medically studied and approved.

We have to take measures to keep ourselves safe. This is only possible when we are following the rules set by our country to stop the virus from spreading. If we become cautious and take preventive measures, we will be able to free ourselves from the virus.

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