With much of the media coverage of COVID-19 being dominated by acute symptoms and an immediate concern about loss of life, it is important to remember that many patients survive in the first weeks. According WHO (World Health Organization), until this week almost 100 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, and of these about 2 million people have died. As much as this is a cause for concern and keeping the necessary restrictions in place, it also shows that almost 98 million people have already recovered. Countless people may have taken COVID-19 without being tested or without symptoms. It doesn’t matter if you have a confirmed positive test or not, these are the most likely symptoms to occur if you have COVID-19. Keep reading – and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss out on these Clear signs that you’ve had the coronavirus.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of the acute phase of COVID-19, but it is also one of the most common symptoms in the long run. Although research is still ongoing, for many of the “long haulers” (those who have been infected with COVID-19 and are showing long-term symptoms), many report severe fatigue that interferes with their daily lives. This can make people unable to return to their normal activities. Treatment options are limited at this point, with limited data on the duration of these symptoms.
Many patients found that COVID-19 caused severe shortness of breath. Many patients develop this symptom at the beginning of the infection. Usually associated with cough in the acute setting, it is one of the main symptoms that make patients seek the emergency room soon after the onset of symptoms. Even while patients are recovering from acute COVID-19 infection, shortness of breath remains an important symptom. According to a study in The Lancet, about 25% of patients have shortness of breath, which reduces their ability to walk normal distances. Although this study was in patients who were confirmed to have COVID-19, it is very likely that patients with similar shortness of breath or intolerance to starting exercise may also have had COVID-19.
For many COVID-19 “long haulers”, confusion or “brain fog” is a common symptom. According to a study outside Chicago, 40% of patients with COVID-19 may have neurological symptoms. Although severe symptoms exist, such as encephalitis (inflammation and direct infection of brain tissue) or stroke, most patients experienced confusion and a general decline in cognition. Even in patients who have recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19 infection, severe confusion or inattention can persist. Probably due to the inflammation that occurs with the COVID-19 virus, the duration of this confusion is still unknown.
COVID-19 has been very different from most viruses, as loss of taste and smell is one of the most common and specific symptoms. Many patients experienced these symptoms before the onset of other symptoms of COVID-19. The worrying reality is that many patients report continued symptoms months after their initial recovery. Scientists they believe that the loss of taste is due to damage to the cells that help to process odors found in the upper part of the nasal passage. This is a positive discovery, as it means that the sense of taste can return. Initially, it was thought that the loss of smell was due to direct damage to neurons that transmit the smell to the brain. If these cells were damaged, the loss of smell and taste could have been more permanent.
Living a pandemic can cause anxiety or depression in anyone. With the constant flood of negative news, as well as orders to stay at home in many municipalities, there is a definite concern that there will be an increase in mental health problems. What is more worrying is that there is now some preliminary evidence to suggest that COVID-19 actually causes inflammation in the brain that can precipitate anxiety and depression. Whether caused by COVID-19 or being completely affected by the pandemic, concerns about mental health should not be ignored. If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, call your primary care physician or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255.
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As more people are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, persistent symptoms will be better understood. Some symptoms are more likely to be present with a COVID-19 infection, even for those individuals who may not have a confirmed COVID-19 test result. With the advent of vaccines, it is expected that the list of symptoms that persist will decrease as more and more individuals become immune to COVID-19 infection.
In the meantime, follow Fauci’s fundamentals and help end this pandemic – 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.