With a lot of media coverage about it COVID-19 Because it is dominated by the acute symptoms and the immediate concern for loss of life, it is important to remember that many patients survive for the first few weeks. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), nearly 100 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide as of this week, of which about 2 million people have died. While this is a cause for concern and enforcing necessary restrictions, it also proves that nearly 98 million people have recovered. Countless people may have had COVID-19 without getting tested or without showing symptoms. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve had a confirmed positive test or not, these are the symptoms most likely to occur if you’ve had COVID-19. Read on – and to ensure your health and that of others, don’t miss this one Definitely signs that you’ve already had 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 long-term symptoms. While research is still ongoing, many of many of the “lung-haulers” (those infected with COVID-19 and experiencing long-lasting symptoms) report severe fatigue disrupting their daily lives. This can prevent people from returning to their normal activities. Treatment options are currently limited, with limited data on the duration of these symptoms.
Many patients have found that COVID-19 has caused severe shortness of breath. Many patients develop this symptom early in the course of their infection. Mostly associated with the cough in the acute setting, it is one of the main symptoms that cause patients to come to the emergency department soon after the onset of symptoms. Even as patients recover from the acute COVID-19 infection, shortness of breath remains a major symptom. According to a study in The Lancetabout 25% of patients have shortness of breath which makes them less able to walk normally. Although this study was conducted in patients confirmed to have COVID-19, it is very likely that patients with similar shortness of breath or new intolerance to exercise have also had COVID-19.
For many of the COVID-19 “long haulers”, confusion or “brain fog” is a common symptom. According to a study from Chicago, 40% of patients with COVID-19 may have neurological symptoms. Although there are severe symptoms such as encephalitis (inflammation and direct infection of the brain tissue) or stroke, most of the patients had confusion and an overall decline in cognition. Even in patients who have recovered from the acute phase of the COVID-19 infection, a marked confusion or inattention may linger. Presumably 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 in that loss of taste and smell is one of the most common and specific symptoms. Many patients experienced these symptoms before the rest of the COVID-19 symptoms began. The worrying reality is that many patients report persistent symptoms for months after their initial recovery. Scientists believe the loss of taste is due to damage to the cells that help process odors found in the upper part of the nasal cavity. This is a positive finding 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 the neurons that transmit smell to the brain. If these cells had been damaged, the loss of smell and taste could have been more permanent.
Going through a pandemic can cause anxiety or depression in anyone. With the constant barrage of negative news, as well as stay-at-home orders in many congregations, there is a clear concern that there will be a spike in mental health problems. What’s more concerning is that there is now some preliminary evidence to suggest that COVID-19 actually causes inflammation in the brain that can cause anxiety and depression. Regardless of whether it’s caused by COVID-19 or because life has been completely affected by the pandemic, mental health concerns shouldn’t 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, the symptoms that linger will be better understood. Some symptoms are more likely with a COVID-19 infection, even for those individuals who may not have a confirmed COVID-19 test result. With the advent of the vaccines, hopefully, the list of persistent symptoms will diminish as more and more individuals become immune to the COVID-19 infection.
In the meantime, follow Fauci’s basics and help end this pandemic – wear one face mask, social distance, avoid crowds, do not go in with people you don’t have shelter (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, get vaccinated when it becomes available to you, and to visit your life and that of others none of these 35 places where you are likely to catch COVID.