Everything You Don't Know About Coronavirus & COVID-19 - Complete Guide

What is this 2019 Coronavirus about? Really want to find out? Get that glass of water, sit tight and continue reading to find out.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

In the early parts of 2020, a new virus began to generate headlines all over the world because of the striking speed of its transmission.

It actually began in a food market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and spread to countries as far-flung as the United States and the Philippines. The virus which is officially named SARS-CoV-2 has been responsible for millions of infections all over the globe. This has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths. especially in the United States.

Also, this disease is caused by an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is called COVID-19 which stands for coronavirus disease 2019.

In spite of this global panic in the news about this virus, it is very unlikely for you to contract SARS-CoV-2. The story could be different if you’ve been in contact with someone who has a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Moving ahead, let’s break some myth doors wide open, shall we?. Continue reading to learn about how this coronavirus spreads, how it’s similar to and different from other coronaviruses, and how to prevent the spread to others if you suspect you’ve contracted this virus.

COVID-19 Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the median incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 is between 4 to 5 days. However, it can range anywhere from two (2) days to fourteen(14) days.

Very importantly, not everyone with a SARS-CoV-2 infection will feel unwell. This is because it’s possible to have the virus and not develop the symptoms. Again, when symptoms are present, they’re usually mild and slowly develop.

The most common coronavirus symptoms are:

fever
cough
fatigue
shortness of breath

Also, some people with COVID-19 may sometimes experience additional Coronavirus symptoms, like:

runny or stuffy nose
sore throat
headache
body aches and pains
diarrhea

If you have any of these coronavirus symptoms mentioned we mentioned above, do well to isolate yourself. Thus, you would have to stay away from other people as much as possible, even members of your family. To observe this, stay in a specific “sick room,” and use a separate bathroom if possible. Furthermore, if you have coronavirus symptoms (COVID-19) and are at an increased risk of complications because of your age or other health conditions, call your doctor in addition to isolating yourself.

Furthermore, there are more serious coronavirus symptoms. Make sure you call a doctor or hospital right away if you have one or more of these coronavirus symptoms (COVID-19):

Trouble breathing
Constant pressure or pain in your chest
Bluish face or lips
Sudden confusion

Note that, you need to get medical care as soon as possible. Put a call through to your doctor’s office or hospital before you go in. This is important because it will help them prepare to treat you and protect medical staff and other patients.

Again, lab tests can tell if COVID-19 is the cause of your symptoms. However, the tests can be hard to come by, and there’s no treatment if you do have the disease. Thus, you don’t need to get tested if you have no symptoms or only less serious ones. If you have questions, call your doctor or your local health department so they can assist you.

Additionally, there are also some other Coronavirus Symptoms (COVID-19). These symptoms are as follows:

Pinkeye
Swollen eyes
Fainting
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Coughing up blood
Blood clots
Seizures
Heart problems
Kidney damage
Liver problems or damage

There are some doctors who are reporting that rashes are tied to COVID-19, including purple or blue lesions on children’s toes and feet. Researchers are investigating these reports so they can understand the effect on people who have COVID-19.

Furthermore, some observations suggest that respiratory symptoms may worsen in the second week of illness. This appears to occur after around 8 days according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 out of 6 people with COVID-19 become seriously ill. These individuals can develop very serious pneumonia or respiratory failure and may need oxygen or mechanical ventilation.

Coronavirus Symptoms You Should Look Out For

The Causes of Coronaviruses

Coronaviruses first develop in animals before developing in humans. Thus, they are zoonotic. This implies that for the virus to pass from animal to humans, a person has to come into close contact with an animal carrying the infection. Furthermore, once the virus develops in people, it can now be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. The wet stuff that moves through the air when you cough or sneeze is called respiratory droplets.

Recall that your windpipe and lungs make up your respiratory tract. The viral material hangs out in these droplets and can be breathed into your respiratory tract. And, from here the virus can then lead to an infection.

Currently, the 2019 coronavirus hasn’t been linked to a specific animal definitively.

According to researchers, there are beliefs that the virus may have been passed from bats to another animal either snakes or pangolins and then to humans. Most likely, this transmission occurred in the open food market in Wuhan, China.

COVID-19 Versus The Flu

You may have heard of the comparison between COVID-19 and flu. Refill that glass of water if you need to and continue reading this article to find out how you can tell the difference between the symptoms of these two infections.

First off, the flu is a common seasonal respiratory illness and according to the CDC, the symptoms of the flu usually come suddenly, while COVID-19 symptoms seem to develop more gradually.

Common symptoms of the flu include:

fever
chills
cough
fatigue
runny or stuffy nose
sore throat
headache
body aches and pains
vomiting or diarrhea

As you can see, there’s some overlap in symptoms between COVID-19 and the flu such as fatigue, cough, and fever. However, it’s important to note that a lot of the common symptoms of the flu are observed less often in cases of COVID-19.

The WHO also notes the following differences between the two of these:

The flu has a smaller incubation period than that of COVID-19.
Transmitting the virus before developing symptoms drives many influenza infections but doesn’t appear to play as much of a role for COVID-19.
The percentage of people who develop serious symptoms or complications seems to be higher for COVID-19 than for the flu.
COVID-19 seems to impact children with less frequency than the flu does.
Currently, there is no vaccine or antivirals available for COVID-19. However, interventions are available for the flu.

COVID-19 Versus Cold

To begin with, Coronaviruses are actually one of the many types of viruses that can cause the common cold. In fact, it’s estimated that four types of human coronavirus are responsible for 10 to 30 percent of upper respiratory infections in adults according to Jama Network.

Some symptoms of the common cold include:

runny or stuffy nose
sore throat
cough
body aches and pains
headache

Wondering how you can tell if you have a cold or COVID-19? Check your symptoms.

According to the CDC, typically, a cold is preceded by a sore throat and runny nose, which are less common symptoms of COVID-19.

In addition, fever is not as common in a cold.

COVID-19 Versus Hay Fever

Another name for Hay fever is allergic rhinitis. It is another condition that might cause respiratory symptoms. It occurs when one is exposed to allergens like pollen, mold, dust, or pet dander in their environment.

Furthermore, the symptoms of hay fever are as follows:

runny or stuffy nose
cough
sneezing
itching of the eyes, nose, or throat
swollen or puffy eyelids

One of the major symptoms of hay fever is itching, and this isn’t observed in COVID-19. In addition, hay fever is not associated with symptoms like fever or shortness of breath.

COVID-19 Versus SARS

Unlike a lot of us might think, this isn’t the first time a coronavirus has made the news. Back in 2003, SARS outbreak was also caused by a coronavirus.

Just like the 2019 virus, the SARS virus was first found in animals before it spread to the human race.

According to WHO, the SARS virus is believed to have come from bats and then transferred to another animal, and then humans. As soon as it is transmitted to humans, the SARS virus began to spread quickly among people.

The reason this new coronavirus is so newsworthy is that a treatment or cure hasn’t yet been developed to help prevent its rapid spread from person to person. However, SARS has been successfully contained.

Who Are Those At Increased Risk?

If you come into contact with someone who’s carrying SARS-CoV-2, you’re at high risk for contracting it, especially if you’ve been exposed to their saliva or been near them when they coughed or sneezed.

Again, if you don’t take proper prevention measures, you’re also at high risk if you:

live with someone who has SARS-CoV-2
provide home care for someone who has contracted the virus
have an intimate partner who has SARS-CoV-2

Furthermore, older people and people with underlying health conditions have a higher risk of severe complications if they contract the virus. Some of these health conditions are:

lung conditions, like Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma
certain heart conditions
immune system conditions like HIV
cancer that needs treatment
severe level of obesity
other health conditions, if not managed well like diabetes, kidney disease, or liver disease

It is also believed that pregnant women have a higher risk of complications from other viral infections. However, it’s not yet known if this is the case for COVID-19. According to the CDC, pregnant people appear to have the same risk of contracting the virus as adults who aren’t pregnant. It is unlikely that the virus is spread from mother to child during pregnancy, but the newborn is capable of contracting the virus after birth.

Coronavirus and The Pregnant Woman

COVID-19 Diagnosis

Currently, the testing for COVID-19 is limited to only people who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 which is the official name for the novel coronavirus, or who have certain symptoms, like those outlined earlier.

Furthermore, if you suspect you’ve contracted SARS-CoV-2, call your doctor’s office. Over the phone, your doctor or nurse can assess your health status and risks. Thus, they can then give you directions as to how and where to go for testing, and help guide you to the right type of care.

On the 21st of April, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the first COVID-19 home testing kit. Using the cotton swab provided, people will be able to collect nasal samples which will be mailed to a designated laboratory for testing.

The emergency use authorization specifies that these test kits are authorized for use by people who healthcare professionals have identified as having suspected COVID-19.

Coronavirus Diagnosis – Complete Guide

What Treatment Options Are Available?

Currently, there is no treatment specifically approved for COVID-19, and no cure for the infection. However, there are treatments and vaccines are currently under investigation. Rather, treatment is centered on managing the symptoms as the virus runs its course.

Therefore, seek medical help immediately if you think you have COVID-19. The doctors will be able to recommend treatment for any symptoms or complications that develop. Also, they are in a better place to let you know if you need to seek emergency treatment.

Furthermore, other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS are also treated by managing their symptoms. In some cases, experimental treatments can be tested to find out their level of effectiveness.

Some of the examples of these therapies used for these illnesses include:

antiviral or retroviral medications
blood plasma transfusions
steroids to reduce lung swelling
breathing support like mechanical ventilation

Coronavirus Cure Research Update

The Possible Complications From COVID-19

A type of pneumonia called 2019 Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia (NCIP) is the most severe complication of COVID-19.

According to results from a 2020 study on 138 people admitted into hospitals in Wuhan, China with NCIP, it was discovered that 26% of those admitted had severe cases and needed to be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Around 4.3% of these people who were admitted to the ICU died from this type of pneumonia.

Very importantly, it should be noted that people who were admitted to the ICU were on average older and had more underlying health conditions than people who didn’t go to the ICU.

At this time, NCIP is the only complication specifically linked to the 2019 coronavirus. Nevertheless, researchers have noticed some other complications in people who have developed COVID-19. They are:

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
heart damage or heart attack
irregular heart rate (arrhythmia)
severe muscle pain (myalgia)
cardiovascular shock
fatigue

What Should You Do If You Want To Protect Yourself From Coronavirus?

Below are tips you can follow to help protect yourself and other people from a SARS-CoV-2 infection:

1. Wash Your Hands.

The first tip we’ll talk about here is washing your hands. Make sure to wash your hands often with soap and warm running water. However, if this isn’t available, CDC recommends that you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol.

2. Avoid Touching Your Face or Mouth.

The second tip on our list is avoiding touching your face. This is something we should all take seriously because touching our faces or mouths when we haven’t washed your hands can transfer the virus to these areas and potentially make you sick.

3. Maintain Distance.

Next on our list is maintaining distance. Endeavor to avoid close contact with people who are ill. Also, if you’re around someone that’s coughing or sneezing, try to stay at least 6 feet away from the individual. Don’t try to take any chances as these are some of the coronavirus symptoms.

4. Don’t Share Personal Items.

Also on our list of prevention tips is to avoid sharing your personal items. This is because sharing items like eating utensils and drinking glasses can potentially spread the virus.

Follow WHO Live Updates

5. Cover Your Mouth Whenever You Sneeze or Cough.

Another preventive measure you can observe is to try to cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue. Be sure to dispose of any used tissues immediately after you use them.

6. Stay Home If You’re Sick.

This might be difficult to observe especially if you’re not one used to staying indoors. However, if you’re already ill, try your best to stay at home until you fully recover.

Follow CDC Live Updates

7. Clean Surfaces.

Again, another prevention tip is using household cleaning sprays or wipes to clean high-touch surfaces like countertops, doorknobs, and keyboards.

8. Keep yourself informed.

Furthermore, the CDC continuously updates information on Coronavirus symptoms and other Coronavirus related areas as it becomes available. Also, the WHO publishes situation reports daily.

17 Great Measures For Coronavirus Prevention

Is Wearing A Mask A Necessity?

If you find yourself in a public setting where it’s hard to follow physical distancing guidelines, the CDC recommends that you wear a cloth face mask for the purpose of covering your mouth and nose.

Also, if we all wear it correctly, these masks can help to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and by a large percentage of the public.

Wondering how? This is because these masks can block the respiratory droplets of people who may be asymptomatic or people who have the virus but aren’t yet diagnosed. When you exhale, talk, cough, or sneeze, respiratory droplets get into the air.

Furthermore, using basic materials such as a bandana, a T-shirt, or cotton fabric, you can make your own mask. The CDC has helped out by providing instructions for making one with scissors or with a sewing machine.

Again, cloth masks are preferred for the general public since the other types of masks are to be reserved for only healthcare workers.

It’s very imperative that the mask is kept clean. It is to be washed each time you use it. Do your best to avoid touching the front of it with your hands. Again, avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes when you remove it. What this does is to prevent you from possibly transferring the virus from a mask to your hands and from your hands to your face.

Bear in mind that wearing a mask doesn’t replace the other preventive measures like frequent handwashing and practicing physical distancing. They are all important.

In addition, note that certain people are not supposed to wear face masks. Some of these people include children under the age of two, people who have trouble breathing, and people who are unable to remove their own masks by themselves.

When Should You Seek For Medical Care?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 80 percent of people recover from COVID-19 without the need for hospitalization or special treatment.

Furthermore, if you’re young and healthy with only mild symptoms, your doctor will likely suggest that you isolate yourself at home and to reduce contact with others in your household. Also, you will likely be advised to rest, stay well hydrated, and to monitor your symptoms closely.

Then, if you’re an older adult and have any underlying health conditions or a compromised immune system, make sure to contact your doctor as soon as you notice any symptoms. Your doctor will suggest to you the best course of action you should take.

Again, if your symptoms get worse with home care, it’s very necessary that you get medical care immediately. Get in touch with your local hospital, clinic, or urgent care to let them know you’ll be coming in, and wear a face mask once you leave your home. Additionally, you can call 911 for immediate medical attention.

What Are The Other Types Of Coronaviruses?

The name of a coronavirus is gotten from the way it looks under a microscope.

The meaning of the word “corona” is “crown,” and when closely examined, the round virus has a “crown” of proteins called peplomers sticking out from its center in every direction. These proteins are what help the virus determine whether its host can be infected.

Back in the early parts of the 2000s, the condition known as the Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was also linked to a highly infectious coronavirus. However, the SARS virus has since been contained which is a relief to some degree.

Conclusion

First and foremost, don’t be afraid. There is no need for you to be quarantined unless you suspect you have contracted the virus or have a confirmed test result.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that is caused by an infection with the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. The major symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Furthermore, since COVID-19 can become serious, it’s very necessary to recognize how coronavirus symptoms differ from other conditions. To do this, you can carefully consider your symptoms, their development, and your risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Again, if you think that you have COVID-19, call your doctor immediately. It’s very important because they can help determine if you need to be tested. Plan to stay at home until you’ve made a full recovery. However, always seek emergency treatment if your symptoms begin to get worse.

The use of the first COVID-19 home testing kit was approved on April 21 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). People will be able to collect a nasal sample and mail it to a designated laboratory for testing using the cotton swab provided.

Also, the test kit is authorized for use by people who healthcare professionals have identified as having suspected COVID-19.

Lastly, there are no vaccines or antivirals available for COVID-19 at the moment. However, observing simple preventive measures can help protect you and others. These measures include things like frequent handwashing, not touching your face, and staying home when sick.