How The Coronavirus Manifests Itself: A Reminder Of The Symptoms

How the coronavirus manifests itself: a reminder of the symptoms

First of all, we must remember that the initial symptoms of COVID-2019 infection are generally the same as those of any other acute respiratory viral infection.

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First of all, we must remember that the initial symptoms of COVID-2019 infection are generally the same as those of any other acute respiratory viral infection. Among the main features are:

1. High temperature;

2. Cough;

3. Weakness;

4. Shortness of breath

Rospotrebnadzor provides a summary table comparing the main differences between the symptoms of the coronavirus COVID-19, colds and flu. In addition to the above, it also includes joint pain, runny nose, headache and diarrhea. They are declared as signs that occur "sometimes" and "rarely" and, in general, fit into the picture of ARVI.

Foreign media focus on three main ones: fever, cough, breathing problems. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the same three main symptoms of coronavirus as paramount, but also reports urgent signs of complications that should immediately call doctors:

1. Difficulty breathing;

2. Constant pain or tightness in the chest;

3. Sudden loss of orientation in space or problems waking up;

4. Blueness of lips or face

It is important to understand that complications do not start immediately. They are preceded by a certain time during which the disease progresses. The primary signs of coronavirus appear within 2 weeks a day from the moment of infection (hence the 14-day period of self-isolation for arrivals from abroad). At the same time, people who have returned from Europe, China, South Korea, Iran, the USA, Great Britain, Ukraine and Belarus remain at risk of COVID-19 infected. And, accordingly, people who came into contact with those who came from the aforementioned states.

But in the risk group of those on whom coronavirus infection can inflict the hardest blow, the older generation is leading. Largely due to the bouquet of concomitant diseases. Diabetes, asthma, renal or pulmonary failure, weakened immunity - all this, together with the coronavirus, often leads to a severe course of the disease, pneumonia and an unfavorable prognosis. This is why it is so important to isolate older relatives as much as possible.

As for the younger generation, for example, kidshealth.org says that there is still little information on how the coronavirus progresses in children, but based on the recorded cases, it can be argued that children carry the virus more easily than adults. At the same time, children are strongly encouraged to get all the vaccinations they require, especially against measles and flu. It is curious that the WHO, according to the RIA agency as of March 22, does not confirm the information that the seasonal flu vaccine protects against coronavirus or provides an easier course of the disease. “There is no scientific evidence for the veracity of this fact,” said WHO spokesman Tarik Yazarevich.

The main route of spread of COVID is through airborne droplets, which are formed when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is also possible to get infected through contaminated surfaces - door handles, for example. Or touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. Therefore, hands should be washed and disinfected as often as possible. And also do not forget about the most contacting surfaces - doorknobs, tables, switches, telephones. In addition, you must maintain a distance between people of at least one and a half meters.

Regarding masks, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing masks for sick people, not healthy people, citing, among other things, that masks may not be enough for sick people. A healthy person does not need a mask because the purpose of a medical disposable mask is to minimize the spread of infection, and not to protect against contaminated air. The degree of air passage in the mask is approximately 50%. This is due to insufficient tightness to the skin. That is why in a room with contaminated air, a mask for preventing infection is ineffective. Moreover, it can even increase the risk of infection, as it creates a favorable environment for the growth of microbes: warm, humid air.

But for an infected person, wearing a mask is effective and very effective: it can greatly reduce the spread of pathogenic bacteria released during breathing, sneezing and coughing of a sick person.

As information about the coronavirus is updated, experts are already expressing aloud assumptions about the end of the pandemic. According to the head physician of the 40th hospital, Denis Protsenko, the pandemic can be stopped in May-June, if everything goes according to the so-called. Chinese script. If the situation cannot be contained and the so-called “Italian model” continues to develop, the struggle will drag on until September. There are also suggestions that the coronavirus has come to us forever. Gradually, humanity will get used to it and will meet with it in certain seasons, as with other SARS and flu.

IMPORTANT:

The symptoms of coronavirus and other respiratory viral diseases are almost identical, but this is not a cause for panic. Today, in the absolute overwhelming majority of cases, people still fall ill with various other ARVIs, and not coronavirus. Common SARS can also cause pneumonia. It is really not a good idea to pull doctors on frivolous reasons in conditions of their extremely high demand on the "front line". But if you feel that you or your loved ones have one or more of the symptoms described above (especially those who have returned from abroad or who have been in contact with such people!) - you cannot hesitate to call an ambulance.

Quarantine remains the most effective measure to combat any pandemic. They haven't come up with a better one yet.

All health.

Ekaterina Yudina.