One of the most curious aspects of COVID-19 is that when infected, some people remain completely asymptomatic, while others end up hospitalized and unable to breathe. Since the beginning of the pandemic, health experts and researchers have studied the highly infectious virus in the hope of understanding why the type of infection varies so dramatically from person to person. According to an infectious disease expert, this boils down to three factors. Read on to discover the three most common factors that influence the type and severity of COVID symptoms – and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Clear signs that you’ve had the coronavirus.
The first and only controllable part of the equation is how the individual is infected and the dose of the virus he receives, says Carlos R. Oliveira, MD, Ph.D., Yale Medicine Pediatric Infectious Disease Doctor “For example, if an individual infected with COVID-19 coughs directly at you, you are likely to receive a much higher dose of the virus than if you were infected by touching a contaminated surface,” he points out. “A higher infectious dose usually leads to faster onset and more severe symptoms.”
This is an excellent example of why wearing a mask and social detachment is so crucial to protecting yourself and others. Several studies have concluded that the masks are effective in preventing the transmission of small infected viral particles from person to person. While they may not stop all of them, they will certainly help to reduce your viral load, probably resulting in a less serious infection.
Another crucial factor in determining the type and severity of symptoms of COVID is “the state of health at the time of infection”, according to Dr. Oliveira. At the beginning of the pandemic, it was clear that people with certain pre-existing conditions were more prone to serious infections than others.
According to the CDC, anyone suffering from cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Down syndrome, heart disease, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies, an immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) organ transplantation, obesity (body mass index [BMI] 30 kg / m2 or greater, but <40 kg / m2), severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg / m2), sickle cell disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, pregnancy or smoking are at a higher risk of serious infection.
“It is especially important for people at increased risk of serious illnesses caused by COVID-19, and for those who live with them, to protect themselves from contracting COVID-19,” warns the CDC.
Age is also a very important factor, according to Dr. Oliveira, influencing not only the severity of the virus, but also the symptoms that it can manifest. “Several studies (including Agyeman, Mayo Clinic, 2020) have shown that in adults, loss of smell is a common early manifestation, occurring in up to 40-60% of infections. It may also be the only manifestation of infection in some adults,” he points.
In contrast, loss of smell is rarely seen in children, he adds, citing the COVID Symptom Study. “In fact, gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite and diarrhea, are frequent early manifestations in children, occurring in about 1 in 3 cases.”
“As is the case with many infectious diseases, the progression of discernible symptoms can be quite variable,” says Dr. Oliveira.
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As asymptomatic spread is a common feature of COVID, taking precautions even when you feel healthy is crucial to preventing the virus from spreading. Then follow Dr. Anthony Faucifundamentals of and help stop this increase, no matter where you live – use a face mask, social distance, avoid large crowds, do not go home with people you are not sheltering (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, be vaccinated when it is available to you and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 places you’re most likely to reach COVID.